We often consider humans to be the most intelligent beings, while animals occupy a lower rung. However, research shows that dogs' perception of the world may be similar to that of humans.
A recent study conducted by scientists from the Department of Ethology at Eötvös Loránd University analyzed how dogs and small children perceive and interpret pointing gestures. The results showed that some intelligent dogs process information about the world similarly to humans.
How was the study conducted?
The researchers pointed to the location of certain objects for the dogs and children and observed their reactions to the gestures. Children quickly understood that the movement indicated the object itself, while dogs perceived the gestures as hints about which direction to think and move.
What did the scientists find out?
The researchers aimed to understand why there is such a difference in the interpretation of gestures. The first hypothesis was based on the idea that dogs' vision is less acute than that of humans, while the second was that spatial characteristics are more important for dogs than the objects themselves.
To test their hypotheses, the scientists conducted behavioral tests with 82 dogs. In the first trial, the animals had to remember which plate—right or left—had a treat placed on it. In the second trial, the plates were positioned in the middle but had different shapes and colors. The results showed that dogs learned faster when the treat was on a specific side—right or left.
By measuring the visual acuity of the dogs, the researchers found that animals with shorter heads had visual characteristics similar to those of humans. Additionally, dogs with higher cognitive abilities better associated information with objects and locations.
After testing the memory, attention, and persistence of the dogs, the scientists noted that animals with high cognitive scores in more complex spatial tasks linked information with objects as easily as with locations.
What conclusions did the researchers reach?
During the experiments, the scientists concluded that dogs' tendencies toward spatial biases are related to certain cognitive factors. On one hand, this knowledge helps to better understand and analyze dog behavior that differs from human behavior. On the other hand, it allows for the conclusion that more "intelligent and capable" dogs can overcome their biases and perceive the world almost as humans do through careful and complex training.
