Thread by @bunsenbernerbmd

Dogs are very intuitive…but do they judge our actions?
Can dogs tell if humans are being mean or just clutzy?
Find out!
#TSPST

In a study at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna scientists built an experiment to test if dogs can judge a human's intentions.
Researchers offered treats to nearly 50 dogs, BUT they played mind games.

A member of the research team sat in a rectangular box that had mesh on all sides but the front.
A clear plastic panel was the window to the dogs, and the team drilled a golf ball sized hole.
48 dogs (of various breeds) were led past this human jail.

Now the mind games began.
On trial had the researcher offer a treat to the dogs only to have it “fall” by accident back inside the human jailbox.
The second trial had the researcher jerked the treat away as the dog went to nibble.

In the third trial, the hole was plugged and the researcher attempted to smash the treat through.
The research team had camera set up that tracked the dog’s movement in 3-D (with the help of artificial intelligence).
Each trial, regardless of "mind game" lasted 30 seconds.

What was the conclusion?
The dogs hung around the human longer when the treat was dropped on accident, 89% of the trial.
When they were being teased, they left sooner, sticking around for 78% of the trial.

The dogs with the plugged hole left the soonest, but they moved to the side hoping the human could figure their life out and give them a treat.
The cameras had more "positive" dog body behaviors also when they were not being teased.

So the dogs seemed to be able to read the intentions from:

1. The human is trying, but kinda clumsy and stupid. I’ll wait.
2. The human has tricked me, they are an asshole.
3. The human is trying, so I’ll be helpful and move around their jail.

Obviously, we cannot speak dog and any conclusions are based on observations.
Other conclusions could be made as well - the dogs made no judgement on the human, but concluded they were not getting a treat.
Perhaps the teasing human smelled like a liar.

Any conclusion from the study should be based though in kindness to an animal.
Teasing a dog for any reason can lead to frustration, jumping, and inappropriate behavior.
If the study is right, your dog will let your butter-fingers slide.

That's a wrap!

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