An argument with AI
By Jennifer Stoeckl, MAT - Dire Wolf Project CEO, Feb. 21, 2024
“Imprinting is the word used instead of pack bonding.” I boldly wrote into the Chat GPT message bar.
“No, it’s not,” came AI’s reply.
Yes, it is.
No. It’s not.
Yes. It IS!
No.
Yes.
No.
“You are wrong.” I finally declared.
“I appreciate your feedback, but… no it’s not.” Chat GPT retorted.
ARGH!!!
It’s infuriating to have an argument with a MACHINE!!
But that’s what happened to me yesterday as I was thinking about the process of imprinting in canines.
Apparently, unbeknownst to me, some scholars do not associate the term “imprinting” with the canine species.
Instead, they call it “pack bonding” or “very strong attachment”.
Those who make a distinction between the two believe that only precocial species (those who are more/less fully functioning at birth) can imprint.
Since dogs are altricial (rely on their mothers for basic survival needs at birth), they can’t imprint.
GIVE ME AN EVER-LOVING BREAK, WOULD YOU?!
Who else is sick and tired of definitions being altered to meet the needs of some people?
I am most certainly NOT the first to note this crazy definition slight-of-hand, either.
Back in 1991, authors Slobodan B. Petrovich and Jacob L. Gewirtz wrote the following in the book, Intersections with Attachment, “… numerous investigators have reiterated the similarities between the processes involved in imprinting in precocial species and those involved in early socialization and the formation of primary social bonds in such altricial-like species as the dog, the monkey, and the human.”
In other words, just because they can’t function on their own at birth doesn’t mean they don’t form strong bonds of rapid and irreversible learning early in life.
In fact, when a puppy is finally able to function on their own (walk, eat real food, see, hear, drink water, etc.) they do bond strongly with their mother, often mimicking her behaviors in order to survive.
The authors above go on to further explain that much has been written on attachment, but little on imprinting, “Because in the past two decades theorists and researchers of human development have focused on the attachment phenomenon almost entirely, and on the imprinting phenomenon almost not at all, the focus of this chapter will emphasize in relatively greater detail features of the imprinting process.”
And today… imprinting is used by a majority of us “average folks”, while some scientific elites use the terms bonding or attachment.
Rover.com author, Hannah Fitchett, wrote in July 2023,
“Most research on imprinting focuses on birds like ducks and geese who find a human and attach to them immediately after hatching, following them everywhere they go. In this sense, dogs don’t imprint onto their pet parents—but they can develop very strong attachments…
“Between about 7 and 12 weeks of age, dogs go through a critical sensitive period where they can form a strong attachment to a particular person, explains bioethicist and author Dr. Jessica Pierce.
“Some people do call this attachment ‘imprinting,’ but this type of bond isn’t quite the same thing. Your dog may feel very attached to you and seek out attention regularly. But unlike actual imprinting, they won’t have a drive to mimic your behavior and learn from it in order to survive.”
In February 2015, however, a research article in Psychology Research and Behavior Management entitled “Current perspectives on attachment and bonding in the dog–human dyad” clearly describes the dog-human bond as similar to a mother-infant bond. “An attachment bond is a close, emotional relationship between two individuals. The dog–human dyad is believed to involve attachment bonds similar to those that characterize human caregiver–infant relationships.”
While the above researchers never use the term “imprint”, they do describe the strong attachment or pack bond in the exact terms that correspond with imprinting.
To add insult to injury, after a battle of wits with ChatGPT where I was clearly getting nowhere, out of the blue, it finally completely agreed with me!
“Dogs can imprint on humans,” I insisted.
Final response from Chat GPT,
“You are correct. Imprinting in dogs refers to a process during which a young puppy forms strong attachments and bonds with human caregivers or other animals during a critical period early in life. This critical period is generally considered to be within the first few weeks or months of a puppy's life.
“Imprinting helps shape a dog's social behavior and influences how they perceive and interact with humans and other animals. Positive experiences and consistent care during this early period can contribute to a well-adjusted and socially adept adult dog. The term "imprinting" is often used to describe the early socialization and bonding that occurs between a puppy and its human caregivers.”
FACE PALM!
Wait! What was that?
“Imprinting is the formation of strong attachments and bonds during the first few weeks or months of a puppy’s life?”
OH GEEZ!
I feel like I just rode a roller coaster with TWENTY loop-d’loops!
Yes. Puppies can imprint on humans.
I see it all of the time.
AND…
We have a puppy, right now, that is hoping to imprint on her new family.
She would love to form a strong bonded attachment to a human who can show her what a good respectful puppy should act like.
Her name is Elatha.
She is twelve weeks old and ready to travel home to you.
You can watch this golden-haired beauty follow after Jay and I like a duck in this video.
Enjoy!
And if you are interested in learning more about her, reply to this email and we’ll chat.
Jennifer Stoeckl is the co-founder of the Dire Wolf Project, founder of the DireWolf Guardians American Dirus Dog Training Program, and owner/operator of DireWolf Dogs of Vallecito. She lives in the beautiful inland northwest among the Ponderosa pine forests with her pack of American Dirus dogs.