In 2002, a study was conducted, involving four different experiments, that tested the social cognition of domesticated dogs. The purpose of this study was to see if dogs are more skillful than chimpanzees in understanding human connections to complete a task and to see if the process of domestication of dogs enabled them to have social-cognitive abilities that helps them to communicate with humans. The first experiment, food was hidden in one of two containers and eleven dogs and chimpanzees had to locate it using obvious social cues. In this experiment, nine of the eleven dogs found the food and two of the eleven chimpanzees found the food. The second experiment involved choice tasks that seven adult wolves and seven adult dogs were suppose
Before reading Hare’s The Genius of Dogs, I had the misconception that dogs understood the principle of connectivity in the same way as humans. For example, I thought that when I would walk my friend’s dog on his leash, and we would come across a mailbox the dog would know to walk on the same side of it as me. However, for all the walks that I took with the dog I would always have to get him unwrapped from the mailbox until I decided to start pulling on the leash to show him which side to go on. I did not know if this misunderstanding of connectivity was only something that my friend’s dog did not know or if it was something specific to all dogs. After reading Hare’s book, I came to the realization that this problem was something specific to all dogs and that they could not solve this type of problem on their own. Even though dogs may not comprehend how to solve a problem right away they can be slowly conditioned to solve the problem that they face.
First Friend: A History of Dogs and Humans, by Katherine Rogers, articulates the history of the relationship between dogs and humans. Wild Justice: The Moral Lives of Animals, by Marc Bekoff and Jessica Pierce, investigates if and how dogs exhibit morality. In both texts, anecdotes and observations are used to portray instances of dogs displaying cooperation, empathy, altruism, and, by extension, morality. Consequently, it stands to reason that dogs have a capacity for sociality, but how can the sociality of dogs be described? A dog’s capacity for sociality is the ability to form long term relationships with members of the same or other species. Dogs, in particular, dogs who hunt as well as dogs who play, are able to form long term relationships with humans and other dogs through trust, love,
In primates such as chimpanzees it is imperative to look at their culture to understand their intelligence. Culture in this circumstance means a specific set of behaviors obtained through learning in a population/species. Chimpanzee’s intelligence is quite unique how they interact with their environment and use it to their benefit just like humans. They have the ability to overcome the obstacles of everyday life through learning and the ability to use tools to create a better quality of life. The complexity of their intellect is different from any other animal ever seen. A significant part of chimpanzee intelligence that sets them apart from other primates and puts them closer to humans is the way they exhibit social learning within their culture and interactions within their environment.
The author specifically utilizes the outcomes of a research by Hungarian scientists regarding the topic, affirming that, indeed, canines’ brains are ordinarily sensitive to acoustic emotional cues, in a similar manner to humans. The author uses an appropriate image of the actual dogs used in the research undergoing an MRI, which helps the readers connect and relate with the topic. The author extensively uses information derived from expert sources, including journals and research magazines. In addition, the article is formatted in a manner that is logical and easy to follow: the introduction, analysis, and summary parts distinct the type of information presented. This article is critical for research because of its extensive
A growing number of studies have attempted to support the theory that cats and dogs differ in their personality attributes. Several common factors have emerged across these studies, such as difference among social behaviours. Higher levels of dominance and hostility have been reported among domestic cats (as cited in Fonberg, 1985). Not surprisingly, domesticated dogs are higher in submissive behaviours (as cited in Marder, 1989). Woodward et al. also reflect upon previously held theories of companion animal attachment that suggest attachment is mediated by the needs of the owner and the characteristics of their pet.
Imagine if your pet was getting experimented on for a product you might buy in the future. Would anyone really want that product, your pet was in pain because of it? Animals are getting experimented on for products to get released to the public. Some companies are using vitro researching to test their products but not enough companies are using vitro as their form of testing products. Synthetic skin could reduce the amount of animals getting tested on everyday for companies to release new products to the public. Animals are getting experimented on everyday.
...tion, including their initial evolution, their domestication, and the roles they played in human society throughout the ages. It is a relatively new book being published in 2010. Darcy Morey, the author of this book is a zooarchaeologist and focuses his research on the relationship between dogs and humans throughout time. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee. This book is based on the authors own research and also refers to the information gathered by many other scientists, all of which are listed in the reference section of the book. As mentioned this book contains the results of research from many scientists and is beneficial for learning both general and more scientific knowledge on the subject. I would recommend it to anybody who is conduction a research on the topic. This book was found using I-Share using the search term the domestication of dogs.
Bradshaw, John. Dog Sense: How the New Science of Dog Behavior Can Make You a Better
For centuries scientists have used animals to study the causes of diseases; to test drugs, vaccines and surgical techniques; and to evaluate the safety of chemicals used in pesticides, cosmetics and other products. However, many scientists amongst animal- right activists forbid the use of animals in scientific research regardless how many illnesses are eliminated through the use of animals in scientific research. Amongst animal right activists, David Suzuki also raises concerns towards animal experimentation. In his article, The Pain of Animals, Suzuki argues that humans have no right to exploit animals because--much like humans--animals also experience pain. In contrast to Suzuki, Haldane, in his article, Some Enemies of Science, argues because animals are very similar to humans, scientists have no choice but to use animals in scientific experiments. Both authors greatly contrast their opinions towards animal experimentation; however Haldane has a more explanatory approach towards animal experimentation. He argues animal experimentation should be acceptable because other forms of animal exploitation are acceptable in society. Secondly, unlike other forms of exploitation which seek pleasure in killing animals such as leisure sport, scientists, most likely do not harm animals; if pain is intended on an animal it is strictly for the purpose of scientific advancement. Thirdly, although, animal experimentation may cause some extinction, it is only one of many other causes of extinction, if other causes are not condemned; then neither should animal experiment...
Animal testing is a controversial topic with two main sides of the argument. The side apposing animal testing states it is unethical and inhumane; that animals have a right to choose where and how they live instead of being subjected to experiments. The view is that all living organism have a right of freedom; it is a right, not a privilege. The side for animal testing thinks that it should continue, without animal testing there would be fewer medical and scientific breakthroughs. This side states that the outcome is worth the investment of testing on animals. The argument surrounding animal testing is older than the United States of America, dating back to the 1650’s when Edmund O’Meara stated that vivisection, the dissection of live animals, is an unnatural act. Although this is one of the first major oppositions to animal testing, animal testing was being practiced for millennia beforehand. There are two sides apposing each other in the argument of animal testing, and the argument is one of the oldest arguments still being debated today.
Just arrived from school to my house on the bus and I wanted to play with my neighbor Ben. Before I could ask him he went into his house. So I saw my sister Bailey on his porch and I was going there with a plastic blaster. What I didn’t know about German shepherds is that they attack someone that is holding a gun or something very close to a gun (example: a blaster.) I was sprinting to get over to my part of the house and before I made it, I got bit.
Infants grow up to be rational, and the mentally disabled can be taught to think more rationally. However animals have a harder time claiming a spot at the table, so to speak. Of animals will never be close to a human’s ability to think rationally, but many animals do have some forms of rationally thinking. Remember the example of someone cheating on exam and we felt cheated, apparently our canine friends feel the same way. Researcher Friederike Range from the University of Vienna did a study with dogs who knew how to shake.
Puppy mills. Hearing that term should make a person furious. Puppy mills are dog breeding operations where profit is placed above animal welfare. Puppy mills represent a serious concern, not only for the dogs, but for future generations as well. The United States government must eliminate puppy mills by having mill owners be incarcerated instead of just fined, allowing more searches of certified breeders, and have congress pass a nationwide law.
These voluntary actions are then used to express empathy because they are able to put themselves in the position of the other dog, thus they are willing to do “voluntary acts”. For instance, in “Task Differences and Prosociality; Investigating Pet Dogs’ Prosocial Preferences in a Token Choice Paradigm,” dogs in pair of twos were situated in a lab and one dog had the choice to press a button or pull a lever that would present their partner food. If the dog knew its partner, then the dog was more likely to be prosocial and generous and allow the other dog to eat. (Dale et al.). Thus showing empathy through being prosocial by actively aiding another dog in which this canine knew well. Consequently, both dogs would benefit as the first one feels validation because of its good deed, while the other is satisfied due to the fact that its basic needs are being met. However, as later seen in Dale et al.’s study, as much as a dog can be generous, it can also be apathetic and even cruel if it does not know the dog well enough. Later on in the study, the dogs were instead paired with a partner they did not know, and in those circumstances, the dogs were ten times more likely to not enable their partners to eat. That might be due to not pressing a mere switch or pulling a lever (Dale et al.). This shows that dogs can be apathetic and even antisocial by ignoring or not even noticing the signs being demonstrated by their partners. This further shows how dogs can convey empathy, because it illustrates these mammals’ ability to choose whether or not to internalize the other mammal’s situation and act upon it. Which shows that dogs possess a higher level of understanding in the ways in which these mammals can express and give empathy. In closing, while dogs can express empathy
It is nearly impossible to say whether non-human animals are intelligent. Most studies, in this field of psychology, were carried out on primates, and it is thought that these animals are naturally superior. It seems most behaviour in the research discussed in this essay can be explained through association learning, therefore not actually a result of intelligence. It is difficult to falsify whether animals are intelligent or not because, although they are able to solve problems they only show some aspects to suggest ToM.