Affect matters: Positive and negative social stimulation influences dogs’ behaviour in a subsequent situation involving an out-of-reach object

Abstract There is ample evidence to suggest that dogs have highly developed, context-dependent social skills. Recent literature also indicates a human-like susceptibility influence in dogs. However, it still unclear how the affective context affects way behave situation involving an out-of-reach object. The experimental manipulation served prime with positive and negative affect form of interactions. Dogs (N = 20) participated both interaction unfamiliar male experimenter. Having received pretreatment different stimuli, subjects were observed instrumental task female experimenter requesting analysis dogs’ tendency engage revealed although type did not whether they retrieved cued object or not, interactions had facilitatory effect on other, more subtle aspects their behaviour. resulted longer duration looking time at experimenter; shorter latency moving upon release approaching priming effects manifested owner after while gazing target during first trial. These behaviours, together finding hesitant approach interaction, may indicate emotional stimulation (involving owner’s experimenter’s unresponsive behaviour, separation threatening stranger) causes temporary disruption dog-owner bond, motivating dog repair afterwards. findings valence attributed has differential subsequent Possible parallels differences from human behaviour are discussed.