Special Issue "Human-Animal Communication"

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Human-Animal Interactions, Animal Behaviour and Emotion".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2021.

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Monica Battini
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Dipartimento di Scienze Agrarie e Ambientali - Produzione, Territorio, Agroenergia, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy
Interests: animal welfare; animal behaviour; small ruminants; cattle; human-animal relationship; animal communication; positive indicators; environmental enrichment

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Thousands of years of domestication have significantly changed the behaviour of large and small domestic animals. During this process non-human animals adapted to the human environment, facing new challenges, and losing old traits that were critical for surviving in the wild. We suppose that domesticated species may have acquired social skills to interact with humans and some species are known to be sensitive to human communicative cues.

The way humans communicate with other humans is mainly by means of voice (language) and postures (body language). And, this is the same way humans communicate with animals. On the other side, animals are known to use a wider set of signals to communicate with other animals, including vocalizations, smells, body language and other behaviours. Are these signals used to communicate also with humans? How did the communication from animals to humans evolve due to this close relationship? Do animals perceive our emotions and how do they understand us? And, on the other hand, did humans improve their ability to understand animals?

An effective communication can lead to a better management of domestic animals, both in farm situations, or at home or shelter for pet animals. Gathering information on animals’ communication is becoming more important also in veterinary practice, offering the possibility of early detection of many diseases that can be promptly controlled or cured. Furthermore, understanding how animals communicate their needs or emotions may be a way to improve their welfare, preventing them from unnecessary suffering or providing them with an appropriate environment.

This Special Issue is interested in both reviews and research papers on all aspects of human-animal communication, from both human and animals (farmed and pet) point of view. It is also interested in understanding how empathy can affect the ability of humans to interpret communication cues. Papers can also present results on automatic systems used to record vocalizations or body language and facial expressions, and how these systems can help humans to understand animals or, on the contrary, reduce their ability to connect with animals.

Dr. Monica Battini
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All papers will be peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • human-animal communication
  • vocalizations
  • body language
  • posture
  • gesture
  • facial expressions
  • gaze
  • communication cues
  • emotions
  • animal welfare
  • empathy
  • automatic systems
  • pain
  • fear
  • happiness

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

Article
Who Is Pulling the Leash? Effects of Human Gender and Dog Sex on Human–Dog Dyads When Walking On-Leash
Animals 2020, 10(10), 1894; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10101894 - 16 Oct 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 36332
Abstract
Previous studies have indicated that human gender and canine sex influences human–dog interactions. However, the majority of studies have considered the interaction when dogs were off-leash and the behavioural interactions when dogs are walked on a leash have not been addressed. This study [...] Read more.
Previous studies have indicated that human gender and canine sex influences human–dog interactions. However, the majority of studies have considered the interaction when dogs were off-leash and the behavioural interactions when dogs are walked on a leash have not been addressed. This study investigated human–dog interactions when shelter volunteers take shelter dogs for an on-leash walk. Video records were made of 370 walks, involving 74 volunteers and 111 shelter dogs, and a leash tension meter was used to determine the pull strength of dogs and walkers. Human gender and canine sex had dyadic effects during the walk. Male dogs tended to pull more frequently and created increased leash tensions. Dogs displayed more stress related behaviours when interacting with men than women, with the signs being spending less time holding the tail in the high position, and more frequent gazing and lip-licking behaviours. Finally, there was a greater pre-disposition in women to use verbal commands, and language typically used with babies, while men were more inclined to have physical contact with dogs. This study’s results may be used to match shelter dogs with appropriate men and women volunteers for walking exercise of the dog, and to improve potential dog socialisation efforts by shelters. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Human-Animal Communication)
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