Vocalisation and turn-taking in interspecies communication between dogs and humans

Dogs and humans have through domestication and co-evolution established a close relationship and can communicate and understand each other. The objective of the present study was to deepen the understanding of the communication between dogs and humans, with focus on the vocalized communication. The study was based on video and audio recordings of dog-human communications from a total of 36 dogs in their home environment. The mean gap size in the communication ranged from 0.651.16 seconds and the overlap in communication had a percentage range of 14-50 %. These results are within the frame of other species communication with turn-taking. With these considerations, it clearly indicates that turn-taking occurs in interspecies communication between dogs and humans. The present study suggests that dogs intentionally communicate through vocalisation with their owners to gain the attention of the owner. In addition, age and sex of the dog influence their communication with their owners.