Oops
Looks like your dog understands you more than you think. The results of a recent study explains why my pup Cowboy quits the game when I fake a throw one too many times.
Researchers used a unwilling-unable paradigm to study 96 dogs of various breeds and ages and discovered that dogs may be able to actually understand humans’ intentions.
This paradigm measures whether an animal is sensitive to human intentions. In this case, they examined whether the dog could tell if the human is 1. unwilling, or 2. simply unable, to do something. And guess what? Apparently Lucy wouldn’t get away with pulling the ball out more than twice if Charlie had been a dog!
Sausage handling
To conduct the study, an experimenter sat inside a transparent box that had holes in the front panel, separating them from the dog. When the dog approached, the experimenter attempted to feed them a piece of sausage through one of the holes. Seems simple enough.
In some of the trials, the experimenter brought the food to the hole but then quickly pulled it back, neener, neener, as if teasing the dog. In other trials, they clumsily dropped the food, oopsy daisy, before reaching the hole.
“Dogs reacted more impatiently to actions signaling an unwillingness to transfer food rather than inability,” researchers stated. This was demonstrated by the dogs’ behaviors toward teasing such as spending longer periods away from the experimenter and/or looking away from them more frequently.
“These differences were consistent through two different samples of pet pups,” researchers said. “Our results, therefore, provide evidence that dogs distinguish between similar actions that are associated with different intentions.”
Bubba forgives you
The manner in which dogs wagged their tails during the sausage trials also suggests the pooches viewed the inept-but-willing experimenter in a more forgiving light.
“Our study highlights pet dogs’ sensitivity to subtle differences in human actions and shows how they adjust their behavior accordingly.”
We knew our doggies were smart, but you have to admit this is pretty damn smart.
My late father used to think it was hilarious that our miniature schnauzer Missy would take anything he offered her, including a tiny piece of crumpled paper, as if it was the most delicious treat ever. I guess she sensed Pop’s good nature, or she thought it was funny, too. Or maybe Missy just thought, “Wow, this is one lousy treat he’s giving me. Poor schlump.”
From The Times UK
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Linda K. Sienkiewicz is a writer, poet, and artist.
Learn more about her multi-award winning novel, In the Context of Love.
Learn more about her picture book, Gordy and the Ghost Crab.
Learn more about her poetry chapbook, Security