Behavioral changes in domestic dogs following the loss of a cohabiting conspecific or a human caregiver: an owner-reported observational study

Abstract

The loss of a socially significant individual may influence the behavior of domestic dogs, yet the determinants of these responses remain poorly understood. This study investigated owner-reported behavioral changes in dogs following the loss of either a cohabiting conspecific or a human caregiver. An anonymous online questionnaire was completed by 85 owners of surviving dogs, covering the dog, its relationship with the deceased individual, the circumstances of the loss, and post-bereavement behavioral changes. Associations were explored with contingency-table analyses (Pearson's chi-square or Fisher's exact test), and a multivariable logistic regression was fitted to identify independent predictors. Behavioral changes were reported in 71 of 85 dogs (83.5%), most frequently lethargy/apathy (46.5%), increased owner-directed contact (45.1%) and searching behavior (32.4%); when present, they generally appeared within three days. Changes were more frequent after the loss of a cohabiting dog than of a human caregiver (87.3% vs. 64.3%; p = 0.049). In the multivariable model, the type of loss (cohabiting dog vs. human caregiver: OR = 4.50, 95% CI 1.11–18.24, p = 0.036) and visual exposure to the deceased individual (not seen vs. seen: OR = 0.28, 95% CI 0.08–0.98, p = 0.046) were independently associated with behavioral changes. Shared illness and relationship duration, assessed in univariate analyses, were not significantly associated with behavioral changes and were not included in the multivariable model. Owner-reported behavioral changes after social loss were therefore common in dogs, and more likely following the loss of a conspecific and when the dog had seen the body. Given the exploratory design and reliance on owner reports, these findings warrant cautious interpretation, and prospective studies using objective measures are needed.