Sex differences in human-directed sociability across reproductive life-history states in free-ranging dogs

Determine whether male and female free-ranging dogs differ in their tendency to approach and interact with unfamiliar humans during the approachability test when trials include individuals in specific reproductive life-history states, namely mating for both sexes and pregnancy or lactation for females.

Background

The study measured approachability and affiliative behavior (via latency and a socialization index) in adult free-ranging dogs that were not mating, pregnant, or lactating and found no sex differences during the initial approachability test.

Because individuals in particular reproductive states were excluded, it remains unresolved whether these life-history states modulate sociability differently in males and females. The authors explicitly call for experiments that include dogs in mating, pregnant, or lactating conditions to assess possible sex differences under these contexts.

References

We will need further experiments to understand if there would be difference among the two sexes if trials are conducted with individuals in these life history stages.

— Free-ranging dogs quickly learn to recognize a rewarding person  (2405.19936 - Nandi et al., 2024) in Section 4 (Discussion), p. 20