Field Guide · Glossary
Social referencing
Learning scienceA dog looking to a person when something unfamiliar appears, then adjusting their behavior toward it based on that person's emotional reaction.
How it works
The term comes from child development research, where an infant facing something new checks a parent's face before approaching or backing off. It has two parts: the look to the person, and a change in behavior that follows what the person expressed. In a 2012 study, dogs in an unfamiliar room were shown an electric fan with green ribbons tied to it, a mildly unsettling object for most dogs. Most of the dogs looked back at the person with them. When that person was their owner, speaking and looking at the fan in a happy way, dogs approached and touched it sooner. When the owner's voice and face expressed worry, dogs took longer to approach. With a stranger in the same role, the effect on behavior was weaker, which suggests the relationship with the person matters.
What it looks like
A dog on a walk stops short at a large inflatable decoration on a lawn and glances back at their handler. The handler stays relaxed, says "what's that?" in a light voice and takes a step closer. The dog sniffs the air, edges forward, and investigates.
Commonly confused with
- The check-in
- A check-in is any glance a dog gives their handler, often trained and rewarded, and it can happen at any time. Social referencing is the specific case where a dog meets something uncertain, looks to a person, and lets that person's reaction shape what they do next.
Related terms
Sources