The Power of a Positive Human–Animal Relationship for Animal Welfare

Domestic animals often seek and enjoy interacting with humans. Positive human–animal relationships can elicit positive emotions and other positive welfare outcomes. Nevertheless, our understanding of the underlying processes that govern the positive perception of humans by animals is incomplete. We...

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Main Authors: Jean-Loup Rault, Susanne Waiblinger, Xavier Boivin, Paul Hemsworth
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2020-11-01
Series:Frontiers in Veterinary Science
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2020.590867/full
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spelling doaj-311e0d6d775a4c0e9217ed377a1fa4d02020-11-25T04:05:57ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692020-11-01710.3389/fvets.2020.590867590867The Power of a Positive Human–Animal Relationship for Animal WelfareJean-Loup Rault0Susanne Waiblinger1Xavier Boivin2Paul Hemsworth3Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, AustriaInstitute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, AustriaUnité Mixte de Recherche sur les Herbivores, Université Clermont Auvergne, INRA, VetAgro Sup, UMR Herbivores, Saint-Genès-Champanelle, FranceAnimal Welfare Science Centre, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, AustraliaDomestic animals often seek and enjoy interacting with humans. Positive human–animal relationships can elicit positive emotions and other positive welfare outcomes. Nevertheless, our understanding of the underlying processes that govern the positive perception of humans by animals is incomplete. We cover the potential mechanisms involved in the development and maintenance of positive human–animal relationships from the perspective of the animal. This encompasses habituation, associative learning, and possibly attachment or bonding based on communication and social cognition. We review the indicators from the literature to assess a positive human–animal relationship. We operationally define this positive relationship as the animal showing voluntary approach and spatial proximity (seeking) and signs of anticipation, pleasure, relaxation, or other indicators of a rewarding experience from interacting with the human. For research, we recommend accounting for the baseline human–animal relationship in the animal's everyday life, and incorporating a control treatment rather than only comparing positive to negative interaction treatments. Furthermore, animal characteristics, such as previous experience, genetics, and individual predisposition, as well as contextual characteristics related to the social and physical environment, may modulate the perception of humans by animals. The human–animal relationship is also influenced by human characteristics, such as the person's familiarity to the animal, attitudes, skills, and knowledge. We highlight implications for current practices and suggest simple solutions, such as paying attention to the animal's behavioral response to humans and providing choice and control to the animal in terms of when and how to interact with humans. Practical applications to achieve a positive perception of humans could be better utilized, such as by incorporating training principles, while keeping in mind trust and safety of both partners. Overall, there is growing evidence in the scientific literature that a positive human–animal relationship can bring intrinsic rewards to the animals and thereby benefit animal welfare. Further research is needed on the underlying processes to establish an effective positive human–animal relationship, especially in regard to the type, frequency, and length of human interaction necessary. In particular, the importance of providing animals with a sense of agency over their interactions with humans remains poorly understood.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2020.590867/fullagencydomesticinteractioninter-speciesperceptionpositive welfare
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Jean-Loup Rault
Susanne Waiblinger
Xavier Boivin
Paul Hemsworth
spellingShingle Jean-Loup Rault
Susanne Waiblinger
Xavier Boivin
Paul Hemsworth
The Power of a Positive Human–Animal Relationship for Animal Welfare
Frontiers in Veterinary Science
agency
domestic
interaction
inter-species
perception
positive welfare
author_facet Jean-Loup Rault
Susanne Waiblinger
Xavier Boivin
Paul Hemsworth
author_sort Jean-Loup Rault
title The Power of a Positive Human–Animal Relationship for Animal Welfare
title_short The Power of a Positive Human–Animal Relationship for Animal Welfare
title_full The Power of a Positive Human–Animal Relationship for Animal Welfare
title_fullStr The Power of a Positive Human–Animal Relationship for Animal Welfare
title_full_unstemmed The Power of a Positive Human–Animal Relationship for Animal Welfare
title_sort power of a positive human–animal relationship for animal welfare
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
series Frontiers in Veterinary Science
issn 2297-1769
publishDate 2020-11-01
description Domestic animals often seek and enjoy interacting with humans. Positive human–animal relationships can elicit positive emotions and other positive welfare outcomes. Nevertheless, our understanding of the underlying processes that govern the positive perception of humans by animals is incomplete. We cover the potential mechanisms involved in the development and maintenance of positive human–animal relationships from the perspective of the animal. This encompasses habituation, associative learning, and possibly attachment or bonding based on communication and social cognition. We review the indicators from the literature to assess a positive human–animal relationship. We operationally define this positive relationship as the animal showing voluntary approach and spatial proximity (seeking) and signs of anticipation, pleasure, relaxation, or other indicators of a rewarding experience from interacting with the human. For research, we recommend accounting for the baseline human–animal relationship in the animal's everyday life, and incorporating a control treatment rather than only comparing positive to negative interaction treatments. Furthermore, animal characteristics, such as previous experience, genetics, and individual predisposition, as well as contextual characteristics related to the social and physical environment, may modulate the perception of humans by animals. The human–animal relationship is also influenced by human characteristics, such as the person's familiarity to the animal, attitudes, skills, and knowledge. We highlight implications for current practices and suggest simple solutions, such as paying attention to the animal's behavioral response to humans and providing choice and control to the animal in terms of when and how to interact with humans. Practical applications to achieve a positive perception of humans could be better utilized, such as by incorporating training principles, while keeping in mind trust and safety of both partners. Overall, there is growing evidence in the scientific literature that a positive human–animal relationship can bring intrinsic rewards to the animals and thereby benefit animal welfare. Further research is needed on the underlying processes to establish an effective positive human–animal relationship, especially in regard to the type, frequency, and length of human interaction necessary. In particular, the importance of providing animals with a sense of agency over their interactions with humans remains poorly understood.
topic agency
domestic
interaction
inter-species
perception
positive welfare
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2020.590867/full
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