Dogs’ comfort levels with unfamiliar people can influence their evaluation outcomes in shelters, potentially shaping adoption opportunities. A 2023 study published in Animals by B. McGuire and Andrew Song analyzed how the sex of a stranger affects canine responses during standardized behavior tests.
The study assessed 283 dogs in a New York shelter over a 27-month period. Researchers focused on the Stranger test, where dogs interact with an unfamiliar person. Behavior was scored on a scale from 1 (calm and friendly) to 5 (avoidant or unsafe to approach).
Findings revealed that dogs tested with male strangers scored higher, indicating more uneasiness, compared to those tested with female strangers. Despite this difference, the average scores for both groups remained within the shelter’s “not concerning” range (1–3). In fact, 89.9% of dogs showed no concerning behavior overall, and only undersocialized dogs displayed more frequent issues.
From a practical perspective, the authors concluded that while stranger sex does influence canine behavior, it does not necessitate changes in how shelters conduct or interpret evaluations for stranger-directed aggression. Instead, the findings reinforce the importance of early and diverse socialization, helping dogs become comfortable with different types of people.
This work contributes to refining our understanding of canine behavior in stressful shelter environments while also emphasizing the role of positive social exposure in preparing dogs for adoptive homes.
Source: McGuire, B., & Song, A., Animals, July 30, 2023.
