Published in Animal Cognition, the study by B. D’Aniello, Anna Scandurra, C. Pinelli, L. Marinelli, and Paolo Mongillo investigates sex differences in attachment behavior in Labrador Retrievers using the well-established Strange Situation Test. This method evaluates attachment through repeated separations and reunions with the owner and interactions with a stranger.
The researchers analyzed behaviors expressed during seven 3-minute episodes and used Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to identify key behavioral factors. A Generalized Linear Mixed Model then assessed how the dog’s sex, age, and the owner’s sex influenced these factors.
In episodes where the dog was with the owner (Episode 1) or completely alone (Episode 5), the PCA revealed no notable sex differences. However, when a stranger was present or when the dog alternated between the owner and stranger (Episodes 2, 3, 4, 6, and 7), clear sex-based patterns emerged.
Females displayed higher sociability overall and showed stronger separation-distress responses than males. They scored lower on distress when both the owner and stranger were present (Episode 2) but higher when left with the stranger alone (Episode 3). They also exhibited higher scores on the separation-distress factor when left with the stranger than with the owner—an effect not observed in males.
These findings suggest that female dogs are both more socially oriented and more sensitive to the owner’s absence, indicating a complex emotional bond that differs from patterns typically seen in infant–mother attachment models. Instead, the results show striking similarities to adult human romantic attachment styles, where females often display higher affiliative behavior paired with stronger responses to separation.
The authors conclude that the dog–owner bond cannot be fully understood through parent–infant frameworks. Instead, it reflects a more nuanced, emotionally reciprocal relationship that varies by sex and may parallel patterns found in adult human social relationships.
Source: D’Aniello, B., Scandurra, A., Pinelli, C., Marinelli, L., & Mongillo, P. (2021). Is this love? Sex differences in dog-owner attachment behavior suggest similarities with adult human bonds. Animal Cognition. Published August 5, 2021. Authors affiliated with institutions specializing in psychology, animal behavior, and cognition.
