Development of Stress Responsiveness and Maternal Behavior in Dogs

Abstract

Extensive studies on dog development were conducted during the 1950s and 1960s, revealing that the behavioral characteristics of adult dogs, particularly their fear towards humans, are significantly influenced by their social contacts, including with humans, during their developmental period. Recently, the importance of the quality of the early developmental environments, especially the mother-infant relationship, has become a focus of attention, as dogs as companion animals are required to have a harmonious temperament in their daily lives with humans. In this article, we first explain the significance of studying stress responsiveness in dogs and introduce our research on the development of stress responsiveness in dogs and the exploration of maternal factors based on findings in rodent studies. Finally, I would like to share our experiences on dog birth and raising them, in which we have been involved personally.