The Human Connection To Dogs

By examining the social psychological  interactions between humans and dogs; we discover our energy driven connection to be extremely complex and even mysterious; for it entails mutual cooperation between two participating species.  In the first study, The Human Attachment to Dogs (2009), we will consider comparative cognitive studies of visual cognitive ability (VCA) and social cognitive ability (SCA) between humans and dogs.  In the second study, the Psychological Effects of Dog Ownership, by the researcher, Krista Marie Clark Cline (2010) utilizes statistical data on individuals who are actively engaged in dog ownership.  We will examine correlations between individual wellness such as; stress, depression, physical activity and exercise with daily stress factors of multi-tasking, exposing evidence of burdensome psychological effects of dog ownership on people.  We will also clarify questions of how dog ownership impacts the individual versus an existing family system in today’s active and highly complex human society.

According to the first study, Attachment between Humans and Dogs, by Nagasawa, et al. (2009), over twenty different species of animals have been successfully domesticated since pre-historic times.  Archaeologists have evidence which implies the dog is one of the most pre-historic mammal species to develop the capacity to inherently function within human society in comparison to other pre-historic animal species such as wolves and apes.  The most common purpose of why dog ownership is so widely accepted are mainly for hunting, guarding and herding (Coppinger- Schnieder 1995).  However, human-dog interaction was more closely examined by Boris Levinson (1962) when he documented a clinical case study where a child with communication problems tremendously benefited from his companionship with a dog.

In society, dogs have established themselves a niche as mans’ best friend.  This role ascribes a standard for which we set the dog species apart from other animal species on the planet.  Dogs seem to possess an intelligence to understand and respond to human finger pointing and basic hand gestures on command.  This unique behavior is associated only to dogs, especially the working breeds.  Researchers refer to this capacity as visual cognitive ability (VCA). The theory implies that dogs developed VCA during their domestication period (Hare, et al., 2002), (Miklosi et al., 2003).  Examining the human-canine connection denotes a canine capacity for engaging in humanlike VCA similar to how man’s visual attention can be directed or lead (Call, et al., 2003, Miklosi, et al., 2000).  Also, the study demonstrates how dogs will not receive food from persons’ whose face is blindfolded or covered over with a bag (Gasci, et al., 2004; Viranyi, et al., 2004), (Viranyi, et al., 2006) suggesting dogs can only know what they can see (canine olfactory and auditory sensory abilities were not considered in this study).  Researchers also indicate a cognitive mental process and an action directed response linking a specific dog to a specific human being (Ludwig et al., 1994), (Kikusui et al., 2006), (Adachi, et al., 2007).  This fascinating phenomenon of dogs utilizing the gaze to commune is indicative of a higher social cognitive ability (SCA) as well, which is most essential when understanding the social psychological cooperation necessary between man and beast (Baron-Cohen, et al., 1997), (Driver et al., 1999), (Macrae, et al.,2002), (Morton-Johnson, 1991).

In the second study, the Psychological Effects of Dog Ownership, the researcher, Krista Marie Clark Cline (2010) utilizes statistical data from individual dog owners engaged in multiple roles, such as physical activity, marital status, age and gender.  The basis for this study is to make the argument that dog ownership can either increase or decrease depression depending on circumstances in which individuals or families own a dog.  The three methods for this study included participants, procedures and measures. The first method utilized random phone participation where a national telephone survey, known as random digital dialing (RDD) was used (Ham & Epping 2006).  The survey included 200 questions on various topics such as; health and medical, social topics, and the environment.  A total of 201 adults between the ages of 19 to 94 years responded with interviews lasting 45 to 60 minutes long.  The procedure used ordinary least squares (OLS) regression which is a two-step analysis  considering the main effects of dog ownership, including social support and physical activity.  The second step, regression examined the effects of moderating variables like, marital status, age and sex.  This study compiled information to create terms of interaction for ownership by sex, age and marital status; then acquired dependent variable statistics (DVS), such as depression, marital status and physical activity (Ross, et al. 1984).  The research also included independent, mediating, and moderating variables to integrate owner support roles such as; friends and family (1- 4), physical exercise (0 - 5), age by (years), male owner (0) or female owner (1), married (1) Single (0) which included widowed, divorced, separated or never married.  Current employment (1), unemployed (0) and children under 18 years of age living at home (1), no children (0) were added variables researchers considered in measuring role strain for adults.  And finally, the control variables for race and education where used to measure socioeconomic status (SES) such as, race (white - 1) used as a binary variable.  Education was measured from (1 - 7), less than ninth grade (1), graduate / professional degree (7).

In conclusion, the study revealed single individuals and women more suitable for dog ownership than men.  The study denoted well-being beneficial to single persons more so than for married couples due to primary relationship roles versus an enhanced lifestyle change where physical activities were priority.  The study also found women who own dogs suffer less from depression than men, because I know statistically speaking, women are treated for depression more often than men which clarify theories on gender differences among personal relationships (Riseman 1998).  But dog ownership does play an effective role on depression regardless of social support from friends and family or physical activity and exercise.  Generally, dog ownership has positive effects on the individuals overall health and wellness (Ory, et al., 1983; Lawton, et al., 1984).  Employment, married couples, single individuals and children living at home were added conditions when examining variables in the research.  In conclusion, the study regarded seasonal timing essential when assuming dog ownership status.  In addition, personal well-being and depression reduction were factored in for individuals and families when considering added stress factors and dog ownership.  According to statistics, dog ownership is currently at 46.3 percent for families who own at least one dog (APPMA, 2011-2012).  This number is up more than 7 percent from 2006 which is an all-time high.