Third-Party Affiliation in Domestic Dogs During and After a Human Conflict

Abstract

Several behaviors occur in the aftermath of within-group conflicts. These include spontaneous affiliation toward the victim from an uninvolved third party. When third-party affiliations reduce the stress of the victim, this behavior has been defined as consolation. Given the absence of previous reports, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the presence of third-party post-conflict affiliation when dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) observe their owners arguing. We carried out two studies varying the intensity and the duration of the dispute. Affiliative behaviors toward each of the owners were registered, as well as stress-related behaviors. Our findings support the existence of third-party affiliation from dogs toward their owners during and after a conflict between them, evidenced as higher rates of victim-directed affiliative behaviors in the experimental condition versus the control, in both studies. Moreover, dogs exhibited more stress-related behaviors in the experimental condition compared to the control, but only in the second study, which suggests these stimuli were experienced as aversive, even though they were not aimed at the dogs. In addition, in the second study dogs displayed aggressor-directed behaviors that could be interpreted as appeasement. Finally, there was no evidence that the level of the bond between the dog and each owner acts as a modulator of affiliative behavior. Further studies are required to expand our understanding of these abilities of dogs and its effects on the emotional state of the victim.