What happens when a dog’s behavior isn’t just about training—but also about *you*? This study dives into the human-dog bond and reveals how our inner emotional world might shape theirs.
How much does your personality affect your dog? According to Gobbo & Zupan (2020), it may be more than you think. Dogs who were aggressive toward humans were found to be significantly less sociable—and they tended to have owners with high neuroticism and insecure attachment styles.
Key insight: Owners with anxious or avoidant attachment patterns seemed to influence their dogs’ tendencies toward human-directed aggression. These dogs weren’t just reactive; they were emotionally shaped by their owners’ psychological makeup.
This challenges conventional dog training logic. We often assume behavior is a training issue, but this research suggests it’s also a relational one. When the owner struggles with emotional regulation, the dog might mirror that instability.
For professionals working with aggression cases, this study offers a vital reminder: behavior is co-created. Tools like our NeuroBond method and the Zoeta Dogsoul App are built to address both sides of the leash. Because training is bonding—and bonding is built on more than commands.
