Attachment styles in dogs and their relationship with separation-related disorder – A questionnaire based clustering

摘要: Abstract Separation related disorder (SRD) is a common behavioural problem in dogs, characterised by severe physiological and signs which occur during the absence of their owner significantly affects dogs’ welfare. Dogs show similar attachment behaviour toward owner, as children parents. While children’s separation anxiety known to be associated with own parents’ style, dogs it yet investigated data-driven way, how SRD styles are owners’ caregiving styles. We collected data about reunion feelings regarding using, an online questionnaire. performed principal component analysis two-step cluster form distinct groups based on questionnaire items. found four different clusters that differed stress, greeting behaviour, concern. These identified accommodated well secure, insecure-anxious insecure-avoidant types, but secure were two only reported fit mainly cluster, whose owners not highly concerned separation, suggesting lower responsiveness avoidant style. Our study supports theory style might affect status. results also shed light those behavioural, behaviours can diverge unequal importance for attribution level This has important implications diagnosis raising serious welfare concerns.