And I recognize the greatest factor in my anxiety is in anticipating my dog’s impending passing and knowing there is no course of action that will eliminate facing this hurdle. Scientific Reports. [Google Scholar], [37][37]Zilcha-Mano S, Mikulincer M, Shaver PR. March 31, 2020.  https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10071-020-01379-y, [61]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dmitry_Belyayev_(zoologist), [62]Belyaev’s Farm Fox Experiment. Ideas in Ecology and Evolution. [75]  Theories of coevolution between humans and dogs explain how humans became more adept at interpreting canine communication and more socially bonded with dogs as the species evolved from wolves into the many breeds of the contemporary domestic dog. In summary, it should be clear how an avoidant owner has a higher probability of owning an anxious and aggressive dog. The effects were often permanent, with the length of isolation having a great effect on the probability of modification once the monkey was immersed in a social group.[50]. They evolved their ability to read human gestures. While many pets seem forever young, they do age, their health eventually declines, and we are faced with even more responsibilities as we take care of the additional duties and demands that come with caring for an elderly or sick animal. It was a stressful time. Just like human beings, dogs endure anxiety; this may be unpleasant, but it’s normal. The rate and extent of emotional convergence depends upon membership stability, mood regulation norms, task interdependence, and social interdependence. While I share the sentiment that my dog is a beloved part of my family, I’ve found it overwhelming and difficult to navigate his diagnosis as I balance the discrepancy between doing everything we can versus doing what is realistic. The foxes that reacted aggressively were removed from the experiment, whereas the foxes that reacted least were selected for breeding. CPT behavior modification programs can do wonders in improving the emotional state and behavior of an anxious and/or aggressive dog. In the last few months it has come and gone, and I ended up taking him to the vet and it cost me more than a thousand dollars to get him treated for it, and along with the treatment came months of having to keep him indoors in a cage to limit movement and having to keep him on medication. In an opinion piece in National Geographic, esteemed evolutionary anthropologist Brian Hare summarized dog-human coevolution. Neuron 2017, 95, 955–970. The Ability to Recognize Dog Emotions Depends on the Cultural Milieu in Which We Grew Up. Understanding human neuroticism is the first step in comprehending the mutual interaction between human and dog emotional states. It is a process, but I do know now she is no longer suffering. Animal Cognition. [46], Moreover, the experiment showed that other than during brief periods of hunger tactile contact and the feeling of security were valued higher than was feeding. Sci. Anxiety is a reaction to stress or fear and can be brought about by changes. However, ethologists and veterinarians universally believed that neutering reduced the probability of aggression in male dogs. Persons with social anxiety are more likely to avoid social contact with persons, neighborhood dogs, and many environmental contexts. Yet, from a societal standpoint what may be more calamitous is the relationship between anxiety, stranger-directed aggression, and dog-dog aggression. The attachment style may result from the parent being raised in a neglectful or abusive household. To answer the question we need first to determine whether dogs can be inherently anxious. There are differing opinions when it comes to the value we place on our animal friends. I share this in hopes other pet owners who relate can recognize that the strong emotions they feel regarding their pet’s care, health, and life are valid. • After modern humans arrived in Europe 43,000 years ago, they pretty much wiped out every large carnivore that existed. A number of factors contribute to the development of aggression, including socialization deficits, hormones, genetics, and neurophysiologic components. Pers. [82]  Moreover, the canine fMRI neuroscience research conducted by Berns and Spivak in Atlanta, GA and by the Miklosi Lab in Budapest, Hungary provide numerous examples of the similarities between the structure and function of dog and human brains. Pets provide great companionship and, for many people, animals are loyal, loving members of the family. From the standpoint of purposeful communication of emotions and behavior, an anxiously aggressive dog may wish its owner to align with it, which would strengthen the pack’s response to repel the stimulus. [87]  The Elaboration Principle is pertinent to dog clubs or groups that meet at a dog park. In a study of 13,700 Finnish pet dogs, there were large breed differences in the prevalence of all anxiety-related traits, suggesting a strong genetic contribution. ; Patall, E.A. • 31% of abandoned dogs exhibited housebreaking problems. How To Calm A Dog With Separation Anxiety. J Res Pers. Nevertheless, findings appear to indicate that relationship-seeking behavior in human-dog partnerships parallels the observations of Newcomb and Morry regarding human interpersonal attraction. However, her condition requires multiple medications daily, intermittent small meals, and regular bloodwork and checkups. Even environments such as car rides, going to a park or vet visits can trigger your pooch. An attachment perspective on human-pet relationships: conceptualization and assessment of pet attachment orientations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. 24(1): 41-55.  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0193953X05702057, [11]Alegria, A; Hasin, D; Nunes, E; Liu, S; Davies, C; Grant, B; Blanco, C.  Comorbidity of Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Substance Use Disorders: Results from the National Epidemiological Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. [48][49], Harlow also performed notable later experiments to study the effects of social isolation on the formation of depression. It might seem completely irrational to you because you’re like ‘I always come back’ but fears and phobias are often irrational. Hum. [90]  Similarly, a group of introverted engineers starting a high-tech company will need an extraverted salesperson. if (d.getElementById(id)) return; One of the most devastating parts of pet ownership is coming to terms with the fact we will likely have to say goodbye to our beloved companions whose lifespans just don’t equal ours. Dev. Personal Relationships. But loving a “fur baby” comes with its hardships, too. Issues 3 – 4. Yet, the classic and most descriptive depiction of developmental maladaptation resulting from an avoidant attachment style is the series of cruel but enlightening rhesus macaque monkey experiments conducted by University of Wisconsin psychologist Harry Harlow. Or are all the preceding causations true? Dog Anxiety Summary. There is an urgent need to systematically examine other means of preventing unwanted procreation, such as vasectomy and hysterectomy.[116]. 2010, 124, 104–112. Anim. Website. Neutered males were more likely to be aggressive than any other group. The monkeys raised by surrogates had a significantly higher probability of exhibiting reclusive behavior, social deficits, fear of exploration,[43]insecurity, fear, and aggressiveness. • Friendliness changed their appearance.They started to develop splotchy coats, floppy ears, and wagging tails. Persons with an avoidant attachment style maintain emotional distance from the pet, avoid intimacy with their pet, prevent the pet from intruding in their personal space, and exhibit difficulty in depending upon the pet and relying upon it when distressed. PMID 8427480.  https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/c9e5/ff2af5a184293feb8b5c4cdaf30d53694549.pdf?_ga=2.100999361.1122878789.1587316124-159651155.1540143283, [5]Jeronimus BF, Riese H, Sanderman R, Ormel J (October 2014). They all become an integral part of the family, and their loss is always a time of much grief and anxiety, but those feelings only show how much we have loved them. [CrossRef] 
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272138480_Does_Personality_Delinquency_or_Mating_Effort_Necessarily_Dictate_a_Preference_for_an_Aggressive_Dog, [23]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Bowlby, [24]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Ainsworth, [25]David L. “Attachment Theory (Bowlby),” in Learning Theories, January 24, 2016.  https://www.learning-theories.com/attachment-theory-bowlby.html, [26]Cherry, K.  “Bowlby & Ainsworth:  What is Attachment Theory? Moreover, experiments have shown that there are contexts that prompt innate anxiety and fear. Part of the above effect is likely attributable to similar-attachment theory, which we will discuss later. • 22% of dogs are abandoned after less than 3 months of ownership, 49% after less than 1 year of ownership, and 62% after less than 2 years of ownership. Frans de Waal, an acclaimed primatologist and ethologist, cites examples of simulation theory in multiple species, including dogs. [104]Botwin, M. D.; Buss, D. M.; Shackelford, T. K. (1997). • 11% of abandoned dogs fought with other dogs. PLoS ONE 2015, 10, e0118375. Regardless, the presence of a neurotic owner increases the probability the dog will exhibit anxiety and associated aggression and that the owner will have reduced capability and maybe even reduced desire to properly control the animal. Appl. PMC 4807458. Yet, they appeared to inherently respond fearfully to the predator odors, while not responding fearfully to the prey and control odors. The process of emotional contagion can be linked to facial mimicry and body language. April 21, 2017. Theodore Newcomb, an American social psychologist, best known for his work while at Bennington College and the University of Michigan, formulated novel social attraction theories coined the Proximity Principle, Elaboration Principle, Similarity Principle, Complementary Principle, and Reciprocity Principle. Therefore, dogs owned by avoidant persons are not only more likely to act aggressively toward the owner, but also more likely to become distressed upon the owner’s departure. Dog Breeds With Separation Anxiety. [18]  Dogs are skillful in acquiring information socially from humans and are able to copy the actions of a human demonstrator. There is the potential for stress with things like adjusting to owning a new pet, training a pet, acquainting new pets and existing pets, introducing pets and children, and finding solutions to various responsibilities in terms of help with pet sitting, dog walking, etc. [CrossRef]  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/251230933_Perceived_not_actual_similarity_predicts_initial_attraction_in_a_live_romantic_context_Evidence_from_the_speed-dating_paradigm. 32(4): 485-500.   https://www.researchgate.net/publication/229794322_The_Similarity-Attraction_Relationship_Revisited_Divergence_between_the_affective_and_behavioral_facets_of_attraction, [103]Tidwell, N.D.; Eastwick, P.W. In a study of 6,000 pet dogs, social fearfulness was associated with several factors, including poor socialization during puppyhood, infrequent participation in training, and infrequent activities. But for me, the greatest anxiety has come with navigating the options, recommendations, and uncertainty after finding out my dog’s health is failing. The owner slowly introduces the dog to the source of anxiety, preferably in small doses and at a decreased intensity. 12 (4): 247–258. ; Sinn, D.L. “Interpersonal attraction and personality: What is attractive – self similarity, ideal similarity, complementarity, or attachment security?”. June 1964. https://www.jstor.org/stable/2785710?seq=1, [90]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theodore_Newcomb, [91]O’Connor, Brian; Dyce, J. [11], One of the more significant human state anxieties relevant to the ontogenesis of a pet dog is social anxiety. Only the ones that were bold and friendly were tolerated. • Dogs who were eventually abandoned were more likely than continued dogs to sleep outdoors. Mary Ainsworth, an American-Canadian developmental psychologist, created the “strange-situation” test most frequently used by psychologists and researchers to measure attachment. Jan 2019.  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/330088651_Highly_Heritable_and_Functionally_Relevant_Breed_Differences_in_Dog_Behavior_supplemental_information, [60]Samuel, L; Arnesen, C; Zedrosser, A; Rosell, F. Fears from the Past? Behavioral and Brain Sciences. Wouldn’t the likelihood be that anxiety in each would be magnified if both were primarily anxious and received a supplemental stimulus that also prompted secondary anxiety? The attachment style may result from similarly inconsistent treatment from parents. Highly Heritable and Functionally Relevant Breed Differences in Dog Behavior. July 2000. Furthermore, there is no difference in personality consistency in dogs tested first as puppies and later as adults versus dogs tested again as puppies and later again as puppies. More from The Onion. Do neurotic dogs make their owners anxious? Relaxed dogs are rarely prone to aggressive behavior. The way anxiety disorders develop in a dog or other domesticated pets are much the same way they would in a human. For instance, owners are generally consciously aware that if their dog inappropriately bites a human or dog the event poses legal, financial, and social detriment. [CrossRef]  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319399953_Risk_factors_associated_with_stranger-directed_aggression_in_domestic_dogs, [58]Haug, L.I. The Similarity Principle states that persons tend to join groups that contain members who are similar to the person in values, attitudes, beliefs, races, gender, age, and other demographic factors. Anxious dogs are more prone to exhibit aggressive behavior than are relaxed, confident dogs. National Collaborating Center for Mental Health. Asian Journal of Social Psychology. European Journal of Social Psychology. April 17, 2015. It’s gotten to the point where I cannot leave the house for longer than 3 hours at a time in order to maintain her schedule of food and medications. 2014, 
9, 143–150. [36], Furthermore, people who have an avoidant attachment style react differently upon the death of a pet. The Relationship Between Owner and Dog Anxiety. [32]  A lower level of salivary cortisol indicates a lower level of stress and a generally healthier animal, physically, physiologically, and psychologically. Mutual gazing increases oxytocin levels, which in turn increase affiliation and bonding. In both platonic and intimate relationships perceptions of similarity correlate to superior relationship quality, and greater similarity psychologically benefits the participants in the relationship. Given that the owner-dog relationship is tantamount to a parent child relationship, where the owner provides basic care, such as feeding and toileting, and also emotional care, such as praise, petting, proximity, and security, one should expect the attachment style of the owner to impact the emotional development and resultant behavior of the dog. • The wolf was domesticated at a time when humans were not very tolerant of carnivorous competitors. It essentially has cost me all of my money and time this summer and although I don’t regret it, it has been such a stressful and depressing time. Resultantly, the anxiety or fear of an owner can readily be replicated by a dog and applied to the target of the owner’s acute anxiety. Dear Megan, I know you wrote this article several years ago and I hope all is well with you. ; Schaaf, J.M. All dog breeds may suffer from anxiety, but the signs vary for each dog. Yet, not all maternal figures are quality caregivers who respond rapidly, reliably, and kindly to the infant’s emotional and physical needs.[26]. People often mistake boredom for separation anxiety because both are accompanied by problem behaviors, such as destructive chewing and excessive barking. Med. CPT litter evaluations examine 19 criteria. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. [83][84], The Proximity Principle states that persons tend to associate with, befriend, and be attracted to persons that are nearby. The Silver Fox Domestication Experiment. by Richard September 15, 2019. written by Richard September 15, 2019. Pet ownership, rewarding as it can be, can be a source of great stress and anxiety and is a valid reason to seek support when needed. Dogs gonadectomized between the ages of 7 – 12 months of age were 26% more likely to demonstrate aggression toward strangers. Thoughts of, “I’m never owning another pet again” creep in and I question whether the anxiety of anticipatory grief or actual grief is worse. [108], Consequently, anxious persons who question their worthiness purposefully select a dog mirroring their personality type. Not all socialization is productive socialization. picking up car keys) and re-teaching the dog that the ‘routine’ no longer predicts departure. var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; Appl Anim Behav Sci. Via selective breeding, humans accelerated an improved ability to interpret dog communication, actions, and emotions and to affiliate with dogs, whereby the dogs achieved superior utility as hunters, protectors, herders, and pets. Consequently, aggressive behavior causes the anxious-aggressive dog to suffer a diminished quality of life. He stuck a gloved hand within each fox’s cage. The “Domestication Syndrome” in Mammals:  A Unified Explanation Based on Neural Crest Cell Behavior and Genetics. In an English study, neutered male dogs were 1.94x as likely to die prematurely, principally due to euthanasia after exhibiting behavioral problems, than were intact male dogs. 18(1): 125-143.  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/229477663_The_attraction-similarity_model_and_dating_couples_Projection_perceived_similarity_and_psychological_benefits. JSTOR 2667070, http://web.mit.edu/curhan/www/docs/Articles/15341_Readings/Affect/Bartel.pdf, [76]Hare, B; Woods, V.  Opinion:  We Didn’t Domesticate Dogs They Domesticated Us. • 12% of abandoned dogs had bitten a person. [35], Persons scoring higher on pet attachment anxiety or avoidance were associated with less positive and more negative expectations about their pet’s availability and responsiveness. [68]Schoenewolf, G. (1990). Therefore, it is not a stretch to assume that dogs also have mirror neurons and exhibit purposeful communication to affect the emotional state and behavior of others within their pack, be those pack members canine or human. “Rapid mimicry and emotional contagion in domestic dogs”. She fought the good fight but in the end it got the best of her and as a loving owner I just couldn’t let her suffer or have to fight through it anymore. Dog training expert Alexandra Bassett is the owner and lead trainer at Dog Savvy Los Angeles, a Los Angeles dog training company that specializes in positive dog training and solving problem dog behaviors like dog separation anxiety, leash reactivity, and dog aggression. 1997, 141, 73–76. July 2014. The Innate Ability of Dogs to Detect Predator Scents. [66]  Resultantly, the foxes developed a less extreme hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal response, which created calmer, less aggressive animals.[67]. Consequently, we maximize the probability of developing a confident, happy, healthy pet and a satisfied, bonded owner. I don’t want to surrender them but sometimes I feel like they’d be better off with someone else. • Changes also happened to their psychology. For one, they cannot tell you how they feel or voice an opinion in their care the way many aging or ill humans can. My other dog began having issues as well and thus the cycle continued. From an overall psychological standpoint, the children are disposed to anxiety, lack of exploration, and general emotional distance. With our pets, we’re faced with the potential we may have to make decisions and take it upon ourselves to assist in ending their lives. In my opinion, the reason often is social self-validation. Feb 26, 2020: 10:3527.  https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-60546-w.pdf, [16]Gácsi M, Vas J, Topál J, Miklósi A. Wolves do not join the dance: sophisticated aggression control by adjusting to human social signals in dogs. Associatively, the researchers concluded that selective breeding focusing on behavior may reduce the prevalence of canine anxieties. Scientific Reports. Personality consistency in dogs: A meta–analysis. ; Brodbelt, D.C.; O’Neill, D. Mortality resulting from undesirable behaviours in dogs aged under three years attending primary-care veterinary practices in England. More conspicuously, perhaps the most convincing experiments validating the genetic contribution to anxiety, fear, and aggression were the Belyaev fox experiments. Owning a pet can be wonderful. PLoS One. [100]  Actual security and self-security predicted attraction. Bela Szandelszky/AP Updated at … Retrieved 23 May 2014.  https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/25/health/25rats.html?ei=5090&en=ee8f5fbaf0576814&ex=1311480000&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all, [65]Dugatkin, LA. A study found significant positive correlations between owners and their dogs in all 5 personality dimensions (neuroticism, extraversion, conscientiousness, agreeableness, and openness). A research study concluded persons lower in agreeableness and higher in neuroticism actively preferred a dog perceived as aggressive. Hopefully, by now, you will see how many potential variables there are when trying to devise ‘catch-all’ solutions to this most common of problems. Separation anxiety happens when a dog that’s hyper-attached to their owner gets super-stressed when left alone. [77]  In each of the preceding the dog learned to communicate purposefully and the human learned to respond accordingly. Relatsh. However, can an anxious dog create an anxious owner? For an hourly fee, CPT consults with persons and families to assist them in matching their characteristics and desires to the optimal pet profile. When a dogs problems are accompanied by other distress behaviors, such as drooling and showing anxiety when hi… [CrossRef]  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/319399953_Risk_factors_associated_with_stranger-directed_aggression_in_domestic_dogs. ; Alexander, K.W. • 29% of abandoned dogs were characterized as “overly active” most or all of the time. [1]Gobbo, E, Zupan, M, Dog’s Sociability, Owners’ Neuroticism, and Attachment Style to Pets as Predictors of Dog Aggression, Animals, Feb 18, 2020. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/2/315/htm, [2]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Five_personality_traits#cite_note-12, [3]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Goldberg, [4]Goldberg LR (January 1993). Going through a frightening experience A triggering moment might be a situation when the dog experiences something scary when it is at home on its own. Analysis of association between behavioural traits and four types of aggression in Shiba Inu. Yet I’m still struck by how stressed, lost, and guilty I’ve felt regarding truly knowing what steps to take between now and then—and how this dilemma, or any type of stress related to pet ownership, is something I’ve rarely heard others voice. 22(4): 561-584.  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/200008880_Relationship_satisfaction_as_a_predictor_of_similarity_Ratings_A_test_of_the_attraction-similarity_hypothesis, [97]Morry, M.  The Attraction-Similarity Hypothesis Among Cross-Sex Friends: Relationship Satisfaction, Perceived Similarities, and Self-Serving Perceptions. Sign Up and Get Listed, I recently experienced an increase in my anxiety related to the flood of emotions I have been navigating in dealing with my aging, ailing dog. The process was mutually advantageous. 21(1);  1 -12. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320265642_Interspecies_transmission_of_emotional_information_via_chemosignals_from_humans_to_dogs_Canis_lupus_familiaris, [73]Semin, G; Scandurra, A;  Baragli, P; Lanata, A; D’Aniello, B.  Inter and Intra-Species Communication of Emotion: Chemosignals as the Neglected Medium. [PubMed] [Google Scholar], https://www.researchgate.net/publication/255975378_Dogs%27_comprehension_of_referential_emotional_expressions_Familiar_people_and_familiar_emotions_are_easier, [19]Fugazza C, Miklósi A. From an overall psychological standpoint, the children are frequently secure, happy, and wiling to explore environments. Pet Owner Anxiety: The Challenges Associated with Loving a Pet. 2017,197, 45–54. Recent;y my 9 year old boxer has been having a recurring paw issue due initially to a thorn wound of some kind. CPT individual dog evaluations thoroughly examine 50 criteria. However, there may be great diversity in temperament within a breed, between lines, or even within a litter. Let’s begin answering the section header question by discussing theories of attraction. If you have a dog that struggles with fear, anxiety, or stress, it’s important to be supportive and patient.. • The wolves that were bold but aggressive were killed by humans. I love them to death and I express it to them and make sure they have their basic necessities met, but the medical issues have really been damaging to everything. Evolution:  Education and Outreach. PMID 27019737, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4807458/, [9]Turcsán, B.; Range, F.; Virányi, Z.; Miklósia, A.; Kubinyia, E. Birds of a feather flock together? Combining the results from the preceding studies, dogs can be genotyped with a predisposition toward developing anxiety and aggression and fearful dogs are more predisposed toward developing aggressive behavior toward unfamiliar persons and dogs. (1982), In memoriam: Harry F. Harlow (1905–1981). Oct 9, 2015. https://file.scirp.org/pdf/OJAS_2015100914300959.pdf, [43] Suomi, S. J. and Leroy, H. A. [68][69]  The phenomenon of emotional contagion has been found in humans, dogs, and primates. doi:10.1111/j.1467-6494.1997.tb00531.x. Comprehensive Pet Therapy. I wish they could just be okay but I find it hard to see a good future for them although their lives have improved in recent years. Second, stress reduced the animal’s breeding frequency and litter health. So as I struggle with the uncertainty of how things will progress, questions about what my next steps should be, and anguish over what’s to come, I find myself feeling a dreadful combination of anxiety, guilt, and helplessness. ; Maheswaranathan, N.; Burke, K.J., Jr.; Borius, M.; Inoue, S.; Chiang, M.C. An anxiety jacket (such as the Thundershirt Dog Anxiety Jacket from Amazon) is a relatively new idea in treating this condition in dogs. Sci. [12]  Furthermore, the condition rarely occurs alone. “Specific antibody levels in free-ranging rhesus monkeys: relationships to plasma hormones, cardiac parameters, and early behavior”. [54], In a study of 6,000 pet dogs, social fearfulness was associated with several factors, including urban environment, poor socialization during puppyhood, infrequent participation in training, infrequent activities, small body size, female gender, and neutering/spaying. © Copyright Mark Spivak and Comprehensive Pet Therapy, Inc.  April 2020. PLoS ONE 2013, 8, e54907. • Abandoned dogs were more likely than continued dogs to be kept all day in a crate.[42]. Roth hypothesized that an owner with self-reported anxiety could cause chronic stress in their pet. “Postnatal Touch Stimulation Acutely Alters Corticosterone Levels and Glucocorticoid Receptor Gene Expression in the Neonatal Rat”. https://evolution-outreach.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12052-018-0090-x, [66]Dugatkin, LA. Prevention is optimal to minimize the probability of future problems. Once the puppy or dog arrives at its new home, the first steps are teaching the dog to urinate and defecate outdoors, not indoors; chew designated chew items, not furniture, carpet, trim, or sheetrock; greet people by sitting, not by jumping; remain quiet unless indicated, rather than bark inappropriately and excessively; play with toys, rather than mouth family members; not dig in the yard; not climb on the furniture unless invited; eat his/her own food, rather than steal human food from the table or counters; and not raid the trash or laundry basket. As discussed in previous sections, owner personality type and attachment style can affect the emotional development, emotional state, and behavior of the puppy or dog. Should old dog trainers learn new tricks? [101]  Similar attitudes relevant to the social context or interaction goals affect behavioral attraction and affective attraction. [22]  Perhaps the disagreeable anxious persons wish an aggressive dog for personal safety or perhaps to better enable social distance. CPT has authored a detailed article on the public policy history of spay/neuter surgery, modern changes in policy, international differences in policy, the potential negative and positive health effects of de-sexing a female or male dog, the negative and positive husbandry impact, and surgical and non-surgical options to spay/neuter. The disorganized parent may at times be responsive and at other times nonresponsive or erratically respond with passivity, aggression, or fear. Here is an excellent video of monkey responses in Harlow’s lab: Later study provided a scientific explanation for Harlow’s experiments and the practical observations of attachment theory in humans and dogs. Likewise, an inherently anxious pet can negatively influence the owner to become chronically or acutely anxious. Am. http://home.cc.umanitoba.ca/~morrym/, [95]Morry, M.  Relationship Satisfaction as a Predictor of Similarity Ratings: A Test of the Attraction Similarity Hypothesis. Anxiety certainly inhibits the quality of life of a pet, especially when contrasted to the quality of life expected from a more confident animal. Dog anxiety is stressful for dogs and humans alike. However, if immersion was delayed until after the critical period of development (3 months), then the social, emotional, and behavioral deficits usually remained permanent. Dec 2013, Jan 2016, June 2018). doi:10.1037/0003-066X.48.1.26. Yet, even when the human does not intentionally collaborate with the dog’s anxious emotional state and behavior, the human may inadvertently and undesirably share the dog’s anxiety. Remember at the top of this article that it was warned that this was a difficult topic! Therefore, such dogs have a high probability of engaging calmly and proximally with the confident owner, rather than defending aggressively when the dog observes the approach of an interloper, in comparison to dogs owned by less confident owners or owners exhibiting less secure attachment patterns. But I find I am constantly worrying now about my other 2 cats. [14]  Thus, of all the variables studied, upon exposure to the experimental stimulus, the only pertinent variable relevant to whether the mouse responded aggressively was whether the mouse was housed in a solitary manner or in a social environment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. The Complementary Principle states that in large groups the group will seek dissimilar members who productively complement existing members. As well as protective measures to avoid dogs experiencing anxiety at all, there are also a range of strategies for managing anxiety. Anxiety creates an aroused emotional state that predisposes a dog to a greater probability of manifesting out of context aggressive behavior. J Appl Anim Welf Sci. While operating CPT for the past 30 years I have availed myself of many anecdotal observations. [114], The behavior of neutered dogs was significantly different from that of intact dogs in ways that contradict the prevailing view. Get our newsletter. Therefore, I eagerly read recent research from the University of Ljubljana. While I haven’t come across resources specifically related to “pet owner anxiety,” I am happy to share that there are therapists out there who specialize in pet loss and there are resources and support groups around the country that focus on pet bereavement. Behav. I share this in hopes other pet owners who relate can recognize that the strong emotions they feel regarding their pet’s care, health, and life are valid. The American Psychologist. How Do Friendships Form? About a year and a half ago, my dog was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. https://www3.canyons.edu/faculty/rafterm/0%200LLI%20LOVEandLOSS/Day%20Files/Day%201%20Files/1958%20-%20The%20Nature%20of%20Love%20-%20Harlow.pdf, [47]Harlow, H. F. (1958). Dogs owned by persons considering them “social partners” and “meaningful companions” showed lower salivary cortisol levels than dogs owned by persons having a more distant relationship with their pets. True separation anxiety, on the other hand, causes the dog to experience real stress during the absence of his owner. doi:10.1037/0022-3514.72.2.362. Simply Psychology. [1]  However, the study never answered why. [111], Meta-analyses of the findings pertaining to inter-rater agreement, test-retest reliability, internal consistency, and convergent validity generally support the validity of canine temperament tests.[112]. The following are excerpts from the article:[76]. The answer to both questions is, “It depends.”  It depends upon the purchaser or adopter’s temperament, attachment style, schedule, residence, family composition, and lifestyle characteristics. It's more than a little whining when you leave or a bit of mischief while you’re out. Furthermore, due to similarity-attraction principles, anxious owners are prone to acquiring anxious dogs, despite the fact that acquiring an anxious dog is more apt to lead to undesirable outcomes, including aggressive behavior. ISSN 1939-1315. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/be04/40b01a3c540c8e374ace7cb340f053166576.pdf. Anim. Administrative Science Quarterly. The children tend to mistrust the caretaker, but feel severely distressed when the caretaker is absent and joyful upon the caretaker’s return. Or now that we have greater knowledge of owner-dog relationship dynamics is there something we can do to minimize problematic outcomes and incidences of dog-human and dog-dog aggression? Sci. Gaze-mediated bonding exists between dogs and humans. It was only a year ago that I had to make the heartbreaking decision to let my fur baby go due to failing health and a very grim diagnosis. March 2001. If you read to the end you will see a behavioral metamorphosis after just one lesson. [CrossRef]  https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228907201_Temperament_and_personality_in_dogs_Canis_familiaris, [113]Boyd, C.; Jarvis, S.; McGreevy, P.D. Temperament and personality in dogs (Canis familiaris): A review and evaluation of past research. "If the separation anxiety came about from the dog losing a companion, and the dog is used to having another dog around all the time … getting another dog can solve it." [Google Scholar], https://www.academia.edu/6183144/Should_old_dog_trainers_learn_new_tricks_The_efficiency_of_the_Do_as_I_do_method_and_shaping_2_clicker_training_method_to_train_dogs, [20]Podberscek, A.L. Home Terms of Service Privacy Policy Sitemap Subscribe to The GoodTherapy Blog. There is also a biological explanation for emotional contagion. The Conclusion:  Is There a Bidirectional Relationship Between Dog-Owner Anxiety? This is a beautiful and companionable dog, but they have recently declined in health and temperament, and this can make them more prone to separation anxiety … [99]Heine, Steven J; Foster, Julie-Ann B.; Spina, Roy (2009). [Google Scholar], https://www.researchgate.net/publication/229272483_An_attachment_perspective_on_human-pet_relationships_Conceptualization_and_assessment_of_pet_attachment_orientations, [36]Zilcha-Mano S, Mikulincer M, Shaver PR. Scientific Reports. Dec 2002. All rights reserved. Furthermore, we should expect that an owner exhibiting a secure attachment style will have the most psychological healthy and emotionally stable pet, whereas an owner exhibiting an avoidant or disorganized attachment style should have the most maladaptive and emotionally unstable pet. [CrossRef] 
 https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02059/full, [18]Merola I, Prato-Previde E, Lazzaroni M, Marshall-Pescini S. Dogs’ comprehension of referential emotional expressions: familiar people and familiar emotions are easier. Emotional contagion fosters emotional synchrony between individuals, whereby a person or group influences the behavior of another person or group through the conscious or unconscious induction of emotional states and behavioral attitudes. Dec 7, 2018. When is it okay to put my mental health ahead of my dog’s life? [93], Marian Morry, a psychology professor and head of the Close Relationship Laboratory at the University of Manitoba, expanded upon Newcomb’s work. 107(4): 751–64. • Wolves approached us, probably while they were scavenging around garbage dumps at the edge of human settlements. Dogs may also lead someone to their owner to help with an emotional crisis, or bring a phone during an anxiety attack in order for the owner to call their therapist or support person. I had feelings of anger as well. This has involved simply making all dogs outdoor dogs, regardless of the breed, and perhaps more significantly not getting them professional care regularly and when they really needed it. Similarly, there is a disproportionate probability that an anxious person will own a dog-aggressive or human-aggressive dog. More saliently, there is a clear inter-relationship between dog-human aggression, dog-dog aggression, and owner neuroticism. Moreover, the power of emotional contagion is not exclusive to neuroticism. The children tend to trust the caregiver, believe the caregiver will return to assist them, seek comfort from the caregiver as a secure base during times of stress, exhibit distress when separated from the caregiver, and exhibit pleasure upon the caregiver’s return. One of the questions, we frequently receive is, “Should I spay/neuter my pet?”  Clients also frequently ask, “When should I spay neuter my pet?”  The answers are not always simple. Consequently, the owner can become an effective and benevolent leader that increases the dog’s confidence and reduces the likelihood of anxiety and undesirable aggressive behavior. Nevertheless, our opinion is that well-designed, thorough evaluations executed by professional evaluators provide a high-degree of accuracy and certainly provide a higher probability of effective selection in comparison to the absence of information that would occur had the client never solicited a competent evaluation. https://www3.canyons.edu/faculty/rafterm/0%200LLI%20LOVEandLOSS/Day%20Files/Day%201%20Files/1958%20-%20The%20Nature%20of%20Love%20-%20Harlow.pdf, [48]McLeod, S.  Attachment Theory. doi:10.1111/j.1467-839X.2009.01289.x. Dec 27, 2011.  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3361565/, [50]Harlow, H. F. (1958). Interpersonal Congruency, Perceived Similarity, and Friendship. Puppy tests can be a tool that provides early diagnosis of dogs genetically or phenotypically predisposed to developing aggressive behavior. [CrossRef] 
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/257018134_Birds_of_a_feather_flock_together_Perceived_personality_matching_in_owner-dog_dyads, [10]Noyes, Jr., R.  Comorbidity in Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Photo Credit: Mark Spivak and Patricia King. Socialization programs need to be age appropriate and consider critical periods of emotional development, fear imprint periods, and the distinct temperament and behavior of the individual puppy or dog. University of Manitoba. The Importance of Early Emotional Bonds”. Psychophysiology. The overall finding is that owners who are neurotic, emotionally disconnected, less controlling, or less structured are more likely to possess dogs exhibiting aggressive behavior. In summary, there is clearly a bidirectional relationship between owner and dog anxiety. Instead of acting fearfully with humans, they followed humans, wagged tails when humans approached, licked the human caretakers, allowed humans to pick them up, and whined when humans departed. 2013,75, 1297–1301. All I feel is anxiety for them and myself, and I constantly feel alone in the process although my mother helps me when she can. Additionally, the knowledge pets are animals as opposed to humans can bring about confusion regarding what that means in terms of our devotion to giving them the best possible care while doing what is in everyone’s best interests. }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); Call us today to enroll: (404) 236-2150 or email: markcpt@aol.com, To learn more about CPT’s boarding and board training services or to make a reservation, please contact CPT by phone at, Copyright © 2002 (Rev. “Like owner, like dog”: correlation between the owner’s attachment profile and the owner-dog bond. • 30% of the abandoned dogs were characterized as fearful at least some of the time. • 16% of abandoned dogs growled, hissed, or snapped at least some of the time. I rush home from work as fast as I can to make sure I can check on them before the vet’s closing time. [10]  There is also a strong association between generalized anxiety disorder and substance abuse disorder. It feels like a never-ending nightmare honestly. A service dog for anxiety can provide a sense of calm, anticipate anxiety attacks, and even fetch medication for their owner. Thank you for writing this, I haven’t been able to label what I’ve been feeling related to my dogs and pet owner anxiety is just that. Web. There is a high correlation between canine anxiety and aggressive behavior. Therefore, domestication of the domestic dog prospered from humans’ abilities to interpret the emotional state of dogs (friendly vs. aggressive), intent and actions of dogs (locating prey by sight or scent), and communication of dogs (barking to alert of danger, barking or play bow to solicit play, solicitous look to indicate a need to urinate or eat). The concept includes intentional behavior, the expression of emotions, and the purposeful exhibition of emotions to project one’s emotional state onto others. [55], Moreover, there is a correlation between anxiety and the development of aggressive behavior. & de Wall, F.B.M. “Empathy: its ultimate and proximate bases” (PDF). Moreover, aggression and submissiveness were the most consistent of the measured dimensions. September 2010. 2005, 95, 1–53. The difference is that you can overcome your dog's boredom by adding more exercise and mental stimulation to its routine. Volume 4, Issue 7.Pg 252-254.  https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1364661398012625, [80]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simulation_theory_of_empathy, [81]Preston, S.D. The attachment style may result from the parental style of interaction with the infant or from lack of schedule availability during times of need. Primatol., 2: 319–342. This contrasted of course with what was going on around me, and with my pets in particular, which has lead to me having constant stress about their life circumstances and conditions. CPT’s protocols, usually administered via private and in-home private lessons, provide the highest probability of modifying general anxiety, state anxiety, and aggressive behavior. The emotional state of an anxious owner may contagiously spread chronically or acutely to his/her dog. Owner attachment and problem behaviors related to relinquishment and training techniques of dogs. Oct 9, 2015. https://file.scirp.org/pdf/OJAS_2015100914300959.pdf, [40]New Jr., J.C., Salman, M.D., King, M., Scarlett, J.M., Kass, P.H. 71(9): 1187-1195.  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2951633/, [12]Koyuncu, A; Ince, E; Ertekin, E; Tukel, R. Comorbidity in Social Anxiety Disorder: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenges. The phenomenon of spaying increasing the likelihood of aggression in female dogs was known previously, although most believed the effect insignificant. Consequently, the logical conclusion is that human owners exhibiting a neurotic emotional state or neurotic behavior may infect their dogs with homologous state anxiety and concomitant anxiety-related behaviors. Appl. Yet, the newer research shows the previous belief may be true in the small minority of male dogs exhibiting true dominance aggression, but is false for the much larger number of male dogs exhibiting anxious temperaments, who frequently exhibit more pronounced anxiety and fear-aggression post a neuter surgery. 45 (2): 197–231. J Res Pers. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/303958160_Altruism_in_wolves_explains_the_coevolution_of_dogs_and_wolves, [78]Nagasawa, M; Mitsui, S; En, S; Ohtani, N; Ohta, M; Sakuma, Y; Onaka, T; Mogi, K; Kikusui, T.  Oxytocin-Gaze Positive Loop and the Coevolution of Human-Dog Bonds. PMID 14561124. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/9049551_Interpersonal_Attraction_and_Personality_What_Is_Attractive-Self_Similarity_Ideal_Similarity_Complementarity_or_Attachment_Security, [102]Michinov, E; Monteil, JM. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsIibD-TLcM, [64]Wade, Nicholas (25 July 2006). What about human-dog relationships? In addition, since we wrote the referenced article, which focuses on the health and husbandry effects of surgical castration and ovariohysterectomy, researchers have released groundbreaking studies that question the assumed long-term behavioral benefits. [40], • 96% of abandoned dogs had not attended obedience classes or received professional training.[41]. Moreover, the effect may be more pronounced with anxious owners. CiteSeerX 10.1.1.554.2794. doi:10.1017/S0140525X02000018. And from the standpoint of anxiety reduction, a trained dog is a happy dog and belongs to a happy owner. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. My family, due to both financial and perhaps cultural reasons, has never been one to care for dogs as much as I know they truly should. Research validates the preceding hypothesis. Anim Cogn. All of my animal companions have a special place in my heart and mind forever. Rationally, I know it’s better to have loved and lost and that time will ease the pain. The Many Faces of Emotional Contagion:  An Affective Process Theory of Affective Linkage. Pages 320 -338.  https://www.nap.edu/read/4547/chapter/15#332, [85]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proximity_principle, [86]Marmaros, D; Sacerdote, B. The nature of love. Human-like modes of communication, including mutual gaze, may have been acquired during the wolf to dog domestication process. I think that suffering through the loss of pets is one of the most difficult experiences we may have, yet we learn from this how precious life is, and how unique each creature is on this globe. Dogs owned by “confident owners” were more likely to consider their owners as a “secure base” than were dogs owned by “non-confident owners.”[31]  Dogs owned by confident owners applying a secure attachment pattern feel more secure when amidst the owner. I need to learn how to deal with it somehow but I don’t know how. [34], Pet avoidant attachment consists of feelings of discomfort with physical and emotional closeness. Hence, socialization is a key factor in the exhibition of territorially aggressive behavior in mice, and likely is the same for dogs. PMID 17596178, http://apsychoserver.psych.arizona.edu/jjbareprints/psyc501a/readings/Norris%20Larsen%20Cacioppo%202007%20Psychophysiology%20(SC%20Neuroticism).pdf, [7]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotional_contagion, [8]Palagi, E.; Nicotra, V.; Cordoni, G. (2015). Sci. Only half-jokingly, I told my colleague, “I need to find my own therapist who specializes in ‘pet owner anxiety.’ ”. A CPT consultation can assist the owner in properly evaluating all major factors (health, husbandry, behavior) relevant to the decision whether to neuter/spay the dog and, if so, when. [CrossRef] 
 https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0118375, [35]Zilcha-Mano S, Mikulincer M, Shaver PR. [57], Aggression toward unfamiliar dogs and people arises most commonly from fear and territoriality.