Friendly Greetings Elicit Improved Effectiveness of Dog Behaviour

Abstract

Canus lupus familiais (domestic dogs) tend to elicit from (the sign stimulus of) a friendly greeting, improved effectiveness of behaviour, an (observable) innate, likely hormonal, (possibly oxytocin) mediated response (a Mebir). Breakthroughs in the natural and behavioural sciences, political ideology, and education come from evidence for {1} the Mebir, {2} the theorem, humans are loving, non-competitive, and non-aggressive (in part from two new theories of evolution), and {3} the Mebir providing social species with cultural and evolutionary freedom (e.g. the social brain hypothesis is substantiated). Other social species (including humans and songbirds), and possibly “non-social” species (e.g., including domestic cats) likely undergo a Mebir. Social species more frequently undergo social interactions suggesting they more frequently undergo the Mebir, and therefore have greater cultural and evolutionary freedom. Two hypotheses were tested and proven invalid. Friendly greetings do not make dogs more effective in behaviour (nor do they invoke innate hunting behaviours as a displaced innate response (that in wolves improve fitness)) (N = 50), and do not make dogs walk faster (N = 29). Data are inclusive of various dog breeds, mixed breeds, both sexes, and all ages from chance encounters with dogs being walked on a sidewalk in a naturalistic setting. Three synchronous greetings were used to elicit the Mebir in dogs, eye contact, friendly verbal greetings, and handwaves. Behavioural responses were commonly exaggerated but weak for certain individuals. Responses included heightened curiosity (about objects and the environment), courageous exploration, creative and playful behaviour, assertiveness (e.g., in pulling on the leash), “pronounced social affiliation seeking” with dogs, pedestrians, and the dog’s owner, heightened aggressiveness (when territorial), and perhaps heightened concentration. Past research indicates that dog learning is improved from social interactions with humans.