Addictive-like behavioural traits in pet dogs with extreme motivation for toys
11 hours ago
- #animal psychology
- #canine behaviour
- #behavioural addiction
- Behavioural addictions in dogs, specifically excessive toy motivation, show parallels to human behavioural addictions.
- 33 out of 105 highly play-motivated dogs exhibited addictive-like behaviours, including fixation on toys and reduced responsiveness to other stimuli.
- The study used a combination of behavioural tests and owner questionnaires to assess criteria like craving, salience, lack of self-control, and mood modification.
- Dogs classified as high-AB (Addictive-like Behaviour) scored higher on craving, salience, and lack of self-control but not mood modification.
- High-AB dogs prioritized toys over food or social interaction, indicating loss of interest in alternative rewards.
- The study suggests that domestic dogs may be the only non-human species to develop addictive-like behaviours spontaneously without artificial induction.
- Working dog breeds were overrepresented in the sample, possibly due to artificial selection for high toy motivation.
- The findings highlight the need for further research into the psychological mechanisms of behavioural addictions across species.