Canine Domestication, Social
Structure and Behavioural Influences

 

Companion dogs, living closely with humans, display a wide range of social behaviours depending on their living arrangements and the degree of human intervention.

 

Home-Living Dogs:

Single-Dog Households: These canines establish close relationships with human family members, frequently perceiving them as social companions. They may have limited opportunities to develop canine social skills, which may result in misunderstandings or emotions causing a wide variety of behaviour (Almquist et al., 2026).

Multi-Dog Households: In this context, canines establish their own social roles, which may be stable and harmonious provided that the group composition is appropriate. Nevertheless, competition over resources such as food, toys, or human attention can potentially result in antagonistic behaviour if not properly managed (Almquist et al., 2026).