When a dog barks, destroys things, or does its business while its humans are away, we sometimes think that it is bored or just looking for attention. However, these behaviors can hide real separation anxiety, a behavioral disorder well documented in canine psychology. Behind the visible damage lies an essential question: what does the dog really feel when he is alone? Researchers from the University of Langford At United Kingdom thus tried to better understand what is going on in the head of a dog who has difficulty coping with absences.
A test to measure the optimism of dogs
To do this, these scientists imagined an original experiment with 24 dogs from shelters. After observing their behavior when they were left alone for a few minutes, they offered them a little game around a bowl of food. The dogs first learned a simple rule: on one side of the room, the bowl was always associated with a reward; on the other, it was always empty. Then the researchers blurred the lines by placing the bowl between the two places.
This is where the dogs' reactions got interesting. Some doggies actually rushed over, as if they were thinking “it’s worth going to see, there might be a treat!” ”, while others were more hesitant, as if they were expecting disappointment.
This test, called the cognitive bias test, allowed researchers to explore the emotional state of the little guinea pigs. It is based on their way of interpreting an ambiguous situation and their ability to assess risks. So, should we take our chances hoping for a reward or, on the contrary, anticipate a negative result? The idea here is simple: just like us, a dog in a good mood might tend to see things on the positive side, while a more worried dog might interpret an uncertain situation in a more negative way.
The researchers found that dogs who showed more signs related to separation also tended to adopt a more “pessimistic” outlook during the test. These dogs seemed to be expecting a nasty surprise rather than a reward. This “pessimistic bias” therefore suggests that they could experience a more fragile emotional state, including outside of times when they are truly alone.
Absence: a real suffering for some dogs
The results of this study published in the journal Current Biology* shed new light on dogs who have difficulty coping with the absence of their humans. Although they do not allow us to confirm that our 4-legged companions feel emotions exactly like us humans, they do provide a valuable clue: certain dogs who suffer from separation also seem to take a more negative view of uncertain situations.
For owners, this discovery changes the way they look at certain behaviors. A dog that barks, destroys a sofa or does its business while you are away is not necessarily seeking revenge or “testing the limits”. These reactions may be the expression of a real difficulty in managing the separation. By learning to decode these signals, we can better meet the needs of our 4-legged companions and help them find more serenity.
Woopets info – How to manage separation anxiety in your dog?
A few simple habits can help your dog cope better with moments of separation and regain a feeling of security:
- Get him used to solitude gradually, starting with short absences, then slowly increasing the duration;
- Keep departures and returns calm, avoiding moments that are too emotionally charged;
- Create a reassuring environment by leaving him with familiar landmarks, toys or suitable activities;
- Meet his needs before the absence: offer him an activity, a walk or a moment of play to promote calming;
- Learn to recognize the signs of stress and unhappiness (destruction, vocalization, uncleanliness or agitation);
- Get support if necessary: a veterinarian or behavior professional can help you put in place suitable solutions.
* Mendl M. et al., “Dogs showing separation-related behavior exhibit a ‘pessimistic’ cognitive bias”, Current Biology, 20, R839-R840.