In a study published in Anthrozoös, researchers Nathaniel J. Hall, Jingwen Liu, D. Kertes, and C. Wynne examined the factors influencing how strongly children feel attached to their dogs. Despite the ubiquity of dogs in family homes, relatively few studies have explored what drives attachment from the child’s perspective.
The research involved 99 children (mean age 10.25 years) and assessed their attachment using the Lexington Attachment to Pets Scale (LAPS). The authors investigated whether children felt more attached to dogs they perceived as emotionally supportive, as well as whether the dogs’ performance on two behavioral tasks—point-following and sociability/petting behavior—predicted attachment strength.
Across all LAPS subscales, perceived support from the dog emerged as the strongest predictor of attachment. Children who viewed their dogs as more supportive reported deeper emotional bonds. On the behavioral side, interesting patterns emerged: dogs that were more successful in following children’s pointing gestures and solicited less petting during the sociability assessment were linked to higher ratings on the General Attachment subscale.
The study also explored the child’s responsibility for dog care. While caregiving did not directly predict attachment scores, it significantly influenced the dog’s behavior: dogs tended to perform better on the pointing task and were more likely to be petted when the child was their primary caregiver. This suggests that caregiving may shape the dog’s responsiveness, which in turn shapes the child’s perceived attachment.
Overall, the findings reveal a dyadic relationship in which the child’s involvement and the dog’s behavioral responses mutually influence the strength of the attachment bond. The researchers highlight that understanding the direction and nature of this dyad is an important area for future study, offering insight into how children and dogs co-develop supportive relationships.
Source: Hall, N. J., Liu, J., Kertes, D., & Wynne, C. (2016). Behavioral and Self-report Measures Influencing Children’s Reported Attachment to Their Dog. Anthrozoös. Published January 2, 2016.
