Researchers led by Miiamaaria V. Kujala examined how human personality traits impact the dog–owner relationship and the dog’s behavioral performance in social and cognitive tests. In the study, 440 dog–owner pairs participated in three behavioral tasks: the object-choice test, the unsolvable task, and the cylinder test. Owners also completed the ATQ-R temperament questionnaire, and their perception of their bond with their dog was assessed using the MDORS scale.
Results showed that owner temperament significantly influenced the perceived emotional closeness and cost of the relationship. Owners high in negative affectivity reported stronger emotional closeness but also higher perceived burdens, while those high in effortful control perceived less closeness and lower costs. Interestingly, dogs with more activity during the tests were associated with owners who reported lower emotional closeness.
The study also found that dog breed group moderated these relationships. For example, in herding breeds, high negative affectivity in owners was linked to poorer performance in the object-choice test, suggesting decreased responsiveness to human cues. In contrast, primitive breeds appeared unaffected by owner temperament in the same context.
These findings underscore the importance of owner psychology in shaping canine behavior, particularly in breed-specific ways. The research suggests that matching dogs and owners based on temperament might improve compatibility and well-being for both. It also highlights the need for individualized approaches in dog training and behavior consultation that consider both human and canine traits.
Source: Miiamaaria V. Kujala, N. Imponen, A. Pirkkala, T. Silfverberg, T. Parviainen, K. Tiira, and N. Kiuru. 2023-09-07. “Modulation of dog–owner relationship and dog social and cognitive behavior by owner temperament and dog breed group.” Scientific Reports, Volume 13. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-41808-2
