Interaction of an domestic dog with an unknown person in a novel environment

Abstract

The domestic dog is able to adapt to new environments by changing their behavior depending on the context. In this process, activation of the autonomic nervous system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis under the control of consciousness involved. The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of the external environment (clinical practice) on the interaction of dog with an unknown man. This work was performed in a private clinical practice, for it were randomized 8 adults dogs, of both genders and different races who attended the clinic. Of these, only half knew the environment (population A), the other half unknown (population B). All were applied a communication test against an unknown person. They were shot 4 minutes with camcorder from an adjacent room of 9 m2 window. Then focal and continuous observation of each animal was performed, recording the following variables: eye contact (frequency), latency approach and stay near the unknown (in seconds). For statistical analysis t-test was applied to check the distribution of the means of the two populations (A and B). This test showed no significant difference (p ≥ 0.05) behavioral responses between the two groups (known versus unknown environment). However, there was a trend of more frequent eye contact with the person who did not know the environment (mean = 6.00), compared with those who did know him (mean = 1.75) (p = 0.09), probably trying to start inter-specific communication faster with the human in a novel environment. When dogs attend the clinic as patients consulting for the first time, the office environment is totally unknown: smells, sights, other dogs and people. In this unfamiliar environment, it is with human beings with whom he develops eye contact and touch to keep your sensory homeostasis, and thus achieve a balance back into behavioral homeostasis.