Lynn Barber

Head of Canine Behaviour & Training

Attachments

Vital development in a social species

• Relationships

• Bonding

• Trust

• Love

Between species

Cat avoidant?

Attachments work both ways!

The science bit…

John Bowlby 1950s

Mary Ainsworth 1970s

The science bit…

John Bowlby 1950s

Mary Ainsworth 1970s

Harry Harlow & …

The science bit…

John Bowlby 1950s

Mary Ainsworth 1970s

Harry Harlow & Konrad Lorenz

The science bit…

John Bowlby 1950s

Mary Ainsworth 1970s

Harry Harlow & Konrad Lorenz

Rasa & Slabbert 1980s

Penalties of poor attachments

Penalties of poor attachments

• P

• I

• E

• S

Poor development…

• Physically

Poor development…

• Physically

• Intellectually

Poor development…

• Physically

• Intellectually

• Emotionally

Poor development…

• Physically

• Intellectually

• Emotionally

• Socially

Poor development…

• Physically

• Intellectually

• Emotionally

• Socially

Types of Attachment

• Secure attached

• Insecure attached

• Insecure avoidant

• Insecure ambivalent

• Insecure disorganised

Secure attached

Insecure attached

Insecure avoidant

Insecure ambivalent

Insecure disorganised

Or…

Or…

Hierarchy of attachments

HUMANS

• Mother

• Father

• Siblings

• Extended family

• Other species

Hierarchy of attachments

HUMANS

• Mother

• Father

• Siblings

• Extended family

• Other species

CANINES

• Mother

• Siblings

• Father

• Extended family

• Other species

Hierarchy of attachments in today’s domestic dog

• Mother

• Siblings

• Human carer

• Household

Mending broken attachments

Insecure attached

Insecure attached

Get him a friend !!!!!

Insecure attached

• Stabilise the relationship

Insecure attached

• Stabilise the relationship

• Desensitise to your mental absence

Insecure attached

• Stabilise the relationship

• Desensitise to your mental absence

• Desensitise to the compound stimuli

Insecure attached

• Stabilise the relationship

• Desensitise to your mental absence

• Desensitise to the compound stimuli

• Desensitise to your physical absence

Insecure avoidant

Insecure avoidant

• Teach the dog it is ok to approach people

Insecure avoidant

• Teach the dog it is ok to approach people

• No pressure

Insecure avoidant

• Teach the dog it is ok to approach people

• No pressure

• Round Robin Recalls

Insecure ambivalent

Insecure ambivalent

• Decrease the negative emotion

Insecure ambivalent

• Decrease the negative emotion

• Increase the positive emotion

Insecure ambivalent

• Decrease the negative emotion

• Increase the positive emotion

• Overdose on positive reinforcement

Insecure disorganised

Insecure disorganised

• The dog must learn to trust people

Insecure disorganised

• The dog must learn to trust people

• Limit handlers to one or two

Insecure disorganised

• The dog must learn to trust people

• Limit handlers to one or two

• Once a good relationship is established gradually introduce more people

The end!

Thank you