The Proof Is In The Puppy

For years I have been telling my husband Jerry, our dog “Buck” is smarter than he gives Buck credit for….and now I have my proof.

A new science experiment has shown us dogs are able to do things once thought only done by humans. Dogs are now showing us they can imitate behavior under certain circumstances. This information comes when a multitude of other information shows us dogs have complex cognitive abilities.

Scientists trained one dog to move different objects using either a paw or her mouth. Instinctively dogs prefer to use their mouth to their paws if possible. Other dogs were shown the trained dog to see if they would imitate her. When the trained dog used her mouth, the others imitated using their mouths. When the trained dog used her paws, the other dogs still used their mouths most of the time. Scientists say it is because these dogs are reasoning that the trained dog used her paws because she had no choice. Scientists also reason dogs used their mouths, even after the trained dog used her paw, because they knew it would accomplish the same task, and the test dog would have used her mouth if she could have.

Some scientists argue that humans see a dog doing this and apply human reasoning to why the dog is doing these actions. More research is necessary to prove dogs are using cognitive thought to complete these imitating tasks.

Until then, I will continue to argue Buck is just the smartest dog my husband or I ever met!

For more information click here.

Happy Trails & Tails,

Tina