Dogs take on a number of roles in human lives, from free-ranging animals in our streets to companions in our homes and working and assistance animals throughout our society. The unique bond between dogs and humans has resulted in an explosion of interest and research on this species and their interactions with people. Yet there is not as much cross talk between researchers focusing on canine cognition and those studying canine-human interactions. The aim of the 69th Nebraska Symposium on Motivation was to bring together researchers from psychology, biology, neuroscience, anthropology, and social work to delve deeper into the canine-human bond. The authors in this book describe evolutionary, hormonal, and neuroscience perspectives for understanding dog behavior and cognition for both companion dogs and free-ranging dogs on the streets of India. We end with experts in canine-human interaction who report on the effects of interacting with dogs on the psychology and well-being of college students. Only by combining perspectives to study both ends of the leash can we truly understand our unique connection with dogs.
Echoing content presented at the 69th Annual Nebraska Symposium on Motivation focused on Canine Cognition and the Human Bond, this chapter shares selective results of efficacy trials examining effects of animal-assisted interventions (AAIs) conducted in a university setting. The chapter focuses on two multi-year studies examining effects of (1) a 10-min animal visitation program (AVP) and (2) comparing effects of a 4-week evidenced-based stress prevention programs featuring varying levels of human animal interaction (HAI) with registered canine therapy teams. Both studies focus on campus-based AAIs aimed at preventing or alleviating university student stress and distress to mitigate the development of mental health disorders and academic failure in typical and at-risk university students. Outcomes across various developmental domains are examined including socioemotional (e.g., students’ momentary emotion states), physiological (e.g., basal, diurnal, and momentary cortisol and alpha amylase levels), cognitive (e.g., executive function), and behavioral (e.g., study skills and learning strategies) while considering student risk factors associated with the development of stress-related psychopathology including a history or presence of mood disorders (e.g., clinical depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, etc.), academic failure, and developmentally-based learning challenges. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.
Free-ranging dogs form the majority of the domesticated dog population in the world. They are a ubiquitous presence in many Southeast Asian countries, especially India, and were the first animals to colonize urban settlements. They spend their entire lives on streets unsupervised by humans and fending for themselves. In this chapter, we summarize the life history strategies of these free-ranging dogs and the various ways they have adapted to the urban human-dominated environment. These dogs are non-aggressive by nature, and their hours of activity overlap with those of humans. Mother dogs spend a large proportion of their time taking care of pups, which decreases with increasing pup age. In these, she may be aided by other female relatives and, sometimes, males in the group. Pups typically spend the majority of their time sleeping and playing, and in spite of the high levels of care received by them, early life mortality is as high as 81%. Humans play an important role in the lives of free-ranging dogs. Despite humans being a major cause of pup mortality, pregnant females choose to give birth in dens close to human habitations. Their near-constant interactions with humans in different capacities have inculcated in them a noteworthy understanding of human behavioral cues and adaptable responses to human gestures and intent. These dogs also depend on human-generated resources for their sustenance displaying characteristics of efficient scavengers as well as urban resource exploiters. Free-ranging dogs are thus an intriguing model system for understanding the evolution of the dog-human relationship in a natural environment.
