The role of the emotional relationship with humans on dog welfare

摘要: The overall aim with this thesis was to identify reliable ways assess the emotional bond between dogs and humans investigate effect of length separation from owner on dog behaviour upon reunion. In Study I, an evaluation made as whether Ainsworth’s Strange Situation Procedure (ASSP), developed in child psychology, can be reliably transferred attachment humans. In a balanced cross-over design, 12 research participated ASSP two different treatments, where target figure either familiar person or stranger. Results showed that clearly preferred physical contact person, indicating discriminated people according their previous experience relationship. They also more intense greeting towards person. However, there no evidence support earlier proposal relationship is ‘secure base’ type, since results for comparison were similar when paper II, cardiac activity privately owned without anxiety investigated they left alone at home 0.5, 2 4h. Each period preceded followed by 10-min during which present could interact dog. It found inactive most time did not change over time. significantly influenced dogs’ returned. After longer periods (2 4 h), had higher heart rate expressed frequency behaviours previously suggested indicate arousal (body shaking lip licking) reunion owner. Dogs displayed tail wagging initiated owners after times separation, regardless behaviour. It concluded inappropriate method due inherent order effects procedure. Instead, proposed better robust measure quality bond.