Social referencing: why it matters that we matter to our dogs
- cambridgedogs
- Feb 26
- 1 min read
Social referencing is a developmental process in which infants and young children look to trusted caregivers for emotional cues to understand and react to ambiguous, new, or uncertain situations. Children use facial expressions, voice, or body language cues to work out if a situation is safe or dangerous.
As adults we continue to gain information from how others respond, particularly in uncertain or emotionally charged situations. We use this to guide how we feel or respond.
Dogs also use social referencing, particularly when they are puppies and trying to work out which novel things they encounter are safe - what to ignore, what to interact with, and what to avoid.
Social referencing is the key principle behind the 'Sensitive Carer' approach, developed by Professor Daniel Mills and the Animal Behaviour Dept. at the University of Lincoln. This approach guides owners how to model confidence and calm and focus their own attention in order to influence dogs in situations where they feel uncertain or worried.
The key message is: our response to events and things around us matters to our dogs If we want them to feel relaxed and safe we need to show them that we are too.
Telling a dog off, getting frustrated, angry or showing any negative emotional state is likely to predispose them to feel negative in similar situations in future. Offering reassurance in a way that does not suggest anxiety in ourselves or draws more attention to whatever they are worried about, but instead builds confidence and a sense of safety is important.
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