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For this second post, I've decided to share with you the results of a relatively recent study, which deals with education and its impact on animal welfare.
Dogs are known for their loyalty, affection and incredible ability to understand and communicate with humans. However, owning a dog requires patience, time and effort. One aspect of the relationship that is often overlooked is the importance of training style. In fact, just as parenting style affects the development of children, the way a dog is brought up can have a significant impact on the quality of its relationship with its owners, its social behaviour and its problem-solving abilities.
There are three main parenting styles for dogs: authoritarian, permissive and authoritative. Authoritarian owners are strict and severe, and tend to use punishment to correct their dog's behaviour. Permissive owners are indulgent and lax, allowing their dogs to do as they please without consequence. Authoritative people are firm but fair, setting limits and enforcing rules, mainly through positive reinforcement.
But does educational style really make a difference to a dog's behaviour?
A recent study published in the Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, attempted to answer this question. The study involved 48 dogs and their owners, who were divided into three groups according to the owner's training style: authoritarian, permissive or authoritative.
The dogs were tested on their attachment to their owner, their social behaviour and their ability to solve problems. For the attachment test, the researchers noted the dog's reaction to its owner's return after two minutes of being isolated in a room. The sociability test consisted of introducing the dogs to an unfamiliar person and noting their reactions. The problem-solving test involved hiding a treat under a cup and recording the time it took the dog to find it.
The results of the study are clear. Dogs with authoritative owners have healthy relationships with their owners, good social skills and the best problem-solving abilities. They show little stress when isolated and celebrate their owner upon his return. They are sociable with attentive people. They are more committed and persistent when searching for a treat and are the only ones to have succeeded in solving the problem. On the other hand, dogs whose parents are permissive have a confused relationship with their owner, are unable to read human signals and give up looking for treats as quickly as possible. Dogs with authoritarian owners fall somewhere in between. They have uncertain relationships with their owners and generally tend to be more distant from humans.
Why do different educational styles affect dogs' behaviour? It all comes down to consistency and structure. Dogs thrive on routine and need to know what is expected of them. Authoritarian parents provide structure, but punishments can create fear and anxiety in dogs. Permissive parents provide no structure, which can lead to confusion and insecurity in dogs. Authoritative parents, on the other hand, provide structure while giving love and affection, which creates a sense of security and confidence in their dogs.
In conclusion, parenting style plays an important role in the quality of the dog-handler relationship, as well as in social and problem-solving skills. The authoritative style offers the best balance between structure and love, resulting in confident, well-rounded dogs. The permissive style can result in anxious and insecure dogs, while the authoritarian style can result in fearful and stressed dogs.
What's your training style? If you'd like to find out more and get help in making the necessary adjustments to have a well-adjusted dog and a harmonious relationship with him, contact me.