Dogs' (Canis familiaris) Behavior on a Social Learning Puzzle Task Is Impacted by Sex and Demonstration but Not Oxytocin

Oxytocin's (OT's) influence on social behavior is highly complex and dependent upon context. Here, we addressed a gap in the literature on how OT impacts the learning process in a purely behavioral study. We conducted a 2 (OT, placebo) x 2 (demonstration, no demonstration) study in which dogs received 35 IU intranasal OT spray and demonstrations of how to solve a food puzzle. We tested subjects' levels of engagement with the puzzle as well as with three social partners-the experimenter, the helper, and the owner-both while the dogs were being introduced to the puzzle and while the dogs were allowed to engage with the puzzle. During the puzzle introduction, dogs that received a demonstration increased their gaze toward puzzle and experimenter, and decreased gaze toward their owner as compared to dogs that did not receive a demonstration. When allowed to engage with the puzzle, dogs that received a demonstration gazed more at the experimenter and opened more drawers compared to those receiving no demonstration, although the difference in their general puzzle interaction only trended toward significant. Moreover, more female than male dogs gazed at the experimenter during puzzle engagement, and there was a strong trend for more male than female dogs to solve the puzzle. Finally, results showed only a modest effect of OT on social partner-directed behaviors, including a possible sex-specific effect, and no impact of OT on social learning. The difficulty of the puzzle, identity of the social partner, and dogs' perceptions of the puzzle opening demonstration are discussed as possible contributing factors.