Last Updated on October 8, 2022 by Pets Feed
Cat or dog? This is a question that can be debated endlessly. But there is one fact about dogs that might change your mind about which animal to choose. You trust your dog, but does he trust you?
At Pets Feed, we love facts, especially animal facts. A study has shown that dogs can understand how reliable a person is in front of them. We want to share this information with you. It turns out that dogs are real sleuths and can warn us to be careful with others.
The study was conducted by scientist Akiko Takaoka from Kyoto University. He and his colleagues wanted to know if a dog would believe someone who knowingly lies to him. The experiment was performed in 3 steps to understand how quickly the animal can determine that it is an unreliable person.
The research team argues that this study is essential for further studying dog behavior. This shows us that dogs are much more likely to interact with honest people, adds John Bradshaw of the University of Bristol.
As part of the experiment, the dog’s owner first pointed at the food container. The animal ran towards him. The man then pointed to the empty container. The dog was deceived and followed the gesture.
We already knew that dogs are interested in objects pointed by the owner. In other words, they correctly understand human gestures. But it turned out that if the gestures are inconsistent, the dog becomes nervous and tense.
Not a single animal approached the furthest empty container: the second time around, they didn’t believe in the deception. The trial involved 34 dogs, and they all showed the same results, reports Animal Cognition magazine. Dogs use their past experiences to determine if a person is worth believing.
Takaoka plans to conduct a similar experiment with wolves – the dogs’ closest relatives. In the meantime, research has shown that dogs are curious about new things, but quickly jump to conclusions about whether a person is still trustworthy.
Extensive research has shown that dogs also understand how their owners relate to others. In one experiment, dog owners sought help from strangers. After that, these strangers were offered to treat the animal. The behavior of the animals surprised everyone.
Pets did not take food from those who behaved rudely with their owners. They preferred to be fed by those who were helping. The dogs were less willing, but still took a treat from people who ignored the request. However, the rude and aggressive participants in the experiment were never able to gain confidence.
Another independent study found similar results: Dogs were shown to be excellent at reading social norms. Likewise, they avoided people who mistreated their masters.
Before that, it was proven that dogs read our emotions. We now know even more about these animals. They can decipher our gestures in order to understand whether to follow our prompts. However, through research, it has been discovered that dogs mostly live in the present, “thinking” about the past or the future only in unusual situations.
But if you cheat on your pet often, they won’t trust or obey you. What if the dog doesn’t like your friends, is there something wrong with your friendship?
How smart is your dog? Share your stories in the comments!
