One of the most prevalent images we have of pets is the social, friendly dog. We are aware of the fundamentals: Dogs have been intentionally developed over time from wolves to serve as our helpmates, saving us from wells, helping the blind or disabled, herding our sheep, and slobbering us. What makes dogs like people, though, in the first place? Is it just because dogs are naturally kind creatures, or is there something unique about the bond between dogs and people that inspires us to create so many endearing Youtube videos? Science has provided us with at least a portion of the solution, and it’s very endearing.
Although there is some debate as to whether dogs were domesticated in different parts of the world at the same time and from the same sources, the domestication of dogs is thought to have begun tens of thousands of years ago from wolf breeds. About how the process actually transpired, there is also much scientific disagreement; according to a 2015 article in Smithsonian Magazine, there are two competing hypotheses. One theory holds that wolves were kept as pets by humans, and the other holds that wolves “domesticated themselves” by following humans around (which is not illogical considering that human camps might be a good source of food and warmth).
We do know, however, that throughout history, humans have purposefully developed several breeds of dogs for certain characteristics to meet needs: a cuddly demeanor, strength, agility, speed, intellect, or some other attribute that was required in specific conditions. (The controversy surrounding Montreal’s Pitbull ban has shown that genes only account for a small portion of the actual behavior of modern dogs; while they may have certain innate characteristics, that is not the whole picture.) One of the current debates surrounding dog breeding in general is the emphasis on “breed features” that are actually quite harmful to the animals in pedigrees and at upscale dog exhibitions like Crufts. (The sloped back of the 2016 Crufts champion German shepherd has been criticized as potentially unhealthy and uncomfortable despite being the ideal for the dog for decades.)
Dogs and humans definitely have a close relationship since looking into each other’s eyes increases the levels of the hormone oxytocin, which is associated with pleasure and bonding. This explains why we are so drawn to certain breeds and they are to us. However, research has offered a few fresh answers for why dogs are so inclined to approach people rather than sit in a corner chewing something.
Dogs Have Genes That Get Them To Seek Help
Both dog lovers and those of us who are interested in autism spectrum disorder will find something of interest in a recently published piece of study. It turns out that a specific type of social behavior in dogs—asking a nearby human for assistance in solving a problem—seems to be linked to particular genes, and those genes are associated to social disorders like autism in people.
Finding the precise genetic factors that contribute to a particular behavior is frequently exceedingly difficult because, for one thing, genes are rarely the sole factors that influence behavior in people or animals. However, the Linkping University in Sweden researchers who carried out the dog study were interested in seeing if they could “trace” a particular gene to a particular canine behavior. They used 437 young beagles who had all been grown in a lab under remarkably comparable circumstances and who had never received any training. They placed them in a room with an unknown female guest and presented them with a problem: three boxes containing food, one of which had its lid locked. The dogs had no trouble opening the first two boxes, but the final one proved to be impossible for them to open on their own.
You’ll be familiar with this behavior if your dog has ever done something particularly stupid or worrying and comes to you for comfort, reassurance, or to get the bin-lid off their head. Some of the dogs decided that the best course of action was to go get the help of the young stranger standing awkwardly in the corner of the room. According to Swedish researchers, they “seek cooperation by staring towards the eye region and through physical approach and contact,” which is precisely what some of the beagles did.
The 95 beagles were split into two groups of 95 once the experiment was complete: those that were most social with the human present and those that persistently (pun intended) tried to find a solution on their own. That in and of itself is actually pretty “wolfish,” according to the researchers, who point out that numerous studies of wolves have shown that, despite being domesticated, they show no tendency to turn to humans for assistance when they face a challenge. They sequenced their genomes and discovered five gene variations on chromosome 26 of the beagle that appeared to be linked to higher sociable behavior toward humans in canines. It appears that being friendly may truly run in the family for beagles and dogs in general.
The Beagle-Autism Link
Things start to get quite strange at this point. Four of the five genes thus discovered [as linked to pro-human behavior in dogs] have previously been linked to social behavior abnormalities in humans, which the researchers found to be “interesting.” In other words, although we have no idea if it works the same way in humans as it does in dogs, what changes behavior in dogs may actually change behavior in humans.
The SEZ6L gene is the main beagle gene with a clear association with autism in humans. SEZ6L was one of four genes that surfaced as substantially associated with autism in a 2015 research of the genetic inheritance of autism spectrum disorders that examined seven extended families. Another, COMT, has been linked to instances of schizophrenia and to aggressive behavior in adolescents with ADHD. In other words, the genes that may affect how dogs engage with us also appear to affect how people interact with one another.
Before you question, there is no evidence to imply that grumpy dogs with specific SEZ6L gene mutations are “autistic” or “schizophrenic.” The beagles’ interactions with other canines or whether their genes had anything to do with those interactions were not seen throughout testing. Even though these genes function differently in many species, it does seem as though they include something related to sociability.
This study has drawbacks as well. Drawing a straight connection between genes and particular behavior can be challenging since there are so many genes that may be involved, a Cambridge canine geneticist told The Guardian. The Swedish researchers’ discovered genes may just be “a minor portion of the narrative.” Before this can be utilized to draw any firm conclusions about how we socialized wolves or how autism and social problems can appear across the mammalian spectrum, there is still much work to be done. Even still, it’s really amazing to consider how a gene may change in one manner, making beagles ask for our assistance, and another, causing autism in a young child. Science is a really peculiar thing.
Why do dogs prefer to be around people?
If your dog follows you around all the time, you’ll probably either think it’s adorable or become bored of nearly falling over him all the time. In either case, it helps to comprehend some of the scientific principles that may explain why your dog certification may always be by your side.
Reinforcement. If their relationship is combined over time with a lot of positive reinforcement, dogs will frequently follow their owners. For instance, if a dog discovers that a certain person is the source of pleasant things like food, pats, and enjoyable activities, the dog may be more inclined to follow that person.
breed characteristics. Some breeds are more likely to be “velcro dogs,” particularly those that have been developed for working with people for centuries. A dog that constantly wants to be by your side is said to be a velcro dog. Velcro dogs are known for their clinginess and their want to stay near their owners.
Companionship. Some dogs simply prefer the companionship of their human owners, which is perhaps the most obvious explanation. Natural selection developed canines to become human companions during the course of domestication. Nowadays, domesticated dogs and people form bonds like to those between parents and children. This is how our relationship with dogs has changed as a result of domestication.
Separation phobia. When dogs become sad because they are separated from their owners, separation anxiety is set off. Dog owners frequently unintentionally foster canine separation anxiety. We make a huge deal out of leaving or coming home, which reinforces the dog’s anxiety and causes him further discomfort each time we go.
Why are dogs so fond of me?
For dogs, licking comes naturally and instinctively. It serves as a means of self-expression, bonding, and grooming for them. Your dog may lick you to express their affection for you, to attract your attention, to help them relax when they’re upset, to demonstrate empathy, or simply because they like the way you taste! It’s possible that excessive licking is an indication of anxiety, discomfort, or pain in your dog. Always get guidance from a veterinarian or behaviorist if you are worried about your dog.
What do dogs perceive us to be?
In the 30,000 years that people and dogs have coexisted, dogs have only grown in popularity and adoration as pets. Today, approximately 50% of American families have dogs.
Dogs certainly act as though they love us back, as seen by the way they beat their tails, jump onto our laps, and grab our pillows. Can we ever be certain, though, given dogs can’t tell us what’s going on inside their furry heads?
In reality, absolutely. We are beginning to have a clearer understanding of what is going on within the canine cranium as a result of recent advancements in brain imaging technologies.
Yes, that’s correct—scientists are investigating dog brains. And the study’ findings are good news for all dog owners: Dogs not only appear to love us back, but they also regard us as members of their family. In terms of affection, protection, and everything in between, it appears that dogs depend more on people than they do their own species.
The most recent neuroimaging study on olfactory processing in the canine brain provides the most conclusive proof that dogs are utterly committed to people. Emory University animal cognition researchers trained canines to remain still in an MRI machine while they measured canine neural responses to both familiar and unfamiliar canine and human odors. Dogs use their noses to navigate the world, so studying how they process smell might reveal a lot about how they behave in social situations.
The caudate nucleus, known as the brain’s “reward center,” was discovered to be activated by the smell of dog owners. Dogs actually gave the scent of people the highest priority among all other scents to take in.
These findings are consistent with other canine neuroimaging studies. Canine brain activity in response to various human and canine sounds, such as voices, barks, and the meaningful grunts and sighs both species generate, was examined by researchers at Eotvos Lorand University in Budapest. Our understanding of what transpires inside canine brains when humans make noise was lacking prior to this investigation.
The study found a number of unexpected results, including striking parallels between how human and canine brains absorb emotionally charged vocal sounds. Researchers discovered that both animals’ auditory cortexes are particularly activated by pleasant noises. This similarity highlights the special, effective communication system that underlies the link between humans and dogs.
In other words, dogs are biologically designed to notice minor changes in human mood, despite the fact that they only appear to do so.
The most modern neuroscience is supported by behavioral studies. Dogs engage with their human caretakers in a similar fashion to how children do with their parents, claims Andics. Just like disturbed children rush to their parents, dogs will run to their owners when they are terrified or anxious. Contrary to most domesticated animals, cats and horses will flee when they are frightened.
Dogs are the only non-primate animal that direct its gaze directly at a person. Andics and other researchers made this discovery approximately ten years ago while researching the domestication of wolves, which they hypothesized would also exhibit this feature. To raise wolves like dogs was their goal. This is a characteristic of dogs and humans only. Dogs look people in the eye, but not their actual dog parents.
Dogs need their owners significantly more than other types of pets do, according to Andics.
Scientists have also viewed the relationship between dogs and people from the other side. It turns out that dogs feel very strongly about people. Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital examined how the brain reacts to images of dogs and kids in a study that was published in PLOS One in October. Women who have owned pets and children for at least two years were study participants. Brain areas linked to emotion, reward, affiliation, visual processing, and social interaction were active in response to both types of photographs. In essence, we are equally happy with our furry and (usually) non-furry family members.
Dog lovers have made a few prominent mistakes when reading dogs’ facial expressions, such as supposing that the frequently observed hangdog look denotes guilt, an emotion that, according to the majority of behavior specialists, calls for a complex sense of self that dogs undoubtedly lack.
However, just as with family, our gut feelings about how dogs behave are frequently accurate.
According to Laurie Santos, the director of Yale’s Canine Cognition Center, “sometimes our intuition about what’s going on inside dogs’ heads is dead-right.” According to studies, dogs are asking for our assistance, which is distinct from even their closest cousins, wolves.
A dog’s glum expression may not always be indicative of a specific want or concern. But we can take comfort in the knowledge that our pets love us just as much—if not more—than we had hoped. They view us as family even though they aren’t actual children. How about us? They will always remain our infants, I suppose.
Do dogs believe humans to be their parents?
- It is possible for a puppy and a human to form a mother-like bond.
- Dogs can detect human facial expressions and have a highly developed sense of smell that aids in human identification.
- A dog’s choices are influenced by positive reinforcement and socialization with both humans and other dogs.
Many think that socialization rather than biology has a larger role in a healthy puppy-parent bond. Therefore, a puppy can absolutely view you as his “mother,” that is, his provider and protector, and form an emotional connection with you that is just as strong as if you were related to him by blood.
Your puppy will also pick you out of a crowd of strangers with ease using both his keen eye and nose. However, it takes some care to establish positive relationships and make sure your dog sees you as his devoted pet parent.
