Effects of Intranasal Oxytocin on Attachment in Pet Dogs (Canis lupus familiaris)

• Main Author: Thielke, Lauren E.
• Other Authors: Udell, Monique A. R., Goddik, Lisbeth, Rosenlicht, Giovanna, Saturn, Sarina, Animal and Rangeland Sciences, Oregon State University. Graduate School
• Format: Master Thesis
• Language: English; unknown
• Published: Oregon State University
• Subjects: Attachment behavior > Physiological aspects; Human-animal relationships; Dogs > Behavior; Oxytocin > Physiological effect; Canis lupus
• Online Access: https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/graduate_thesis_or_dissertations/2801pj749

The present study explored the effects of intranasal oxytocin (OT), a naturally occurring hormone, on the behavior of pet dogs in an attachment test. Each dog participated in two testing sessions. On one visit saline was administered nasally and on another OT was administered nasally. Condition order was counterbalanced. Following a 30-minute wait period after administration of solutions, dog-owner pairs participated in a short attachment test consisting of three two-minute phases: (1) Baseline- the owner was present, dogs were able to freely explore the testing room (2) Alone- dogs were left alone in the testing room (3) Return- owners re-entered the room and were reunited with their dog. In each phase the behavior of the dog was evaluated for behaviors associated with different styles of attachment, including contact seeking, exploration, and avoidance behaviors. Although OT was expected to increase owner-directed proximity and contact seeking behavior, this effect was not observed. In fact, in the baseline phase, dogs spent significantly more time seeking proximity to their owners when they received saline than when they received OT. No other main effects on behavior were found. These results suggest that nasally administered OT's effects on attachment related behavior may be limited.