"Since Darwin first suggested that most living animals shared common ancestors, it has become increasingly clear that there are many similarities in the psychological processes of different species, particularly among those groups of animals that have somewhat comparable forms and functions. For example, human beings and dogs are both social mammals with similar brain structures and patterns of activity, so it is not surprising to find that they also show similarities in their emotional and cognitive processes."
"Thinking along these lines, it would not be much of a stretch to suggest that if early stressors can cause later psychological problems in humans, then it would make sense to look for an analogous set of relationships in dogs. This appears to have been the reasoning of Julia Espinosa, lead author of a new study from Harvard's Department of Human Evolutionary Biology."
Early stress in puppies correlates with increased adult aggression and fearfulness. The sensitive period for negative effects of stress occurs before six months of age. Human and canine similarities as social mammals with comparable brain structures support cross-species parallels in emotional and cognitive responses to early adversity. Owners of 4,497 dogs completed the Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) to quantify behavioral outcomes. The research identifies a link between adverse early experiences and later problematic behaviors in dogs. Identification of sensitive developmental windows emphasizes the importance of minimizing stressors during puppyhood to reduce long-term behavioral risks.
Read at Psychology Today
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