Doggos Can Tell If Your Friend Is A Bad Person, And The Internet Is Loving It
Some dogs seem to have a built-in radar for people who feel off, and this story is all about that uncanny instinct. A viral post about a dog reacting badly to a friend has people talking, especially because the friend had done nothing obvious to the dog itself.
The situation gets messy fast, because the dog’s behavior seems to line up with the owner’s own doubts about the friendship. That is exactly why so many readers are paying attention.
Now the internet is weighing in on whether the dog was picking up on something real.
Ever noticed your dog low-key giving someone the stink eye?
Turns out that dogs can sense when people are unkind, even when that person hasn't been rude to them.
The research was conducted by Dr. Dan Ariely, behavioral economist, who states, "Animals, much like humans, can pick up on social cues and emotional states, which can influence their interactions." This study builds on previous research regarding how infants respond to negative interactions, extending the findings to the behaviors of Capuchin monkeys and dogs. As noted by Dr. Helen Fisher, biological anthropologist, "The ability to perceive and respond to the emotions of others is crucial for social bonding, not just in humans but across many species."
And if you think it ends at judging vibes, check out the dog owner baffled by someone who yanked their dog under the table at a dog-friendly restaurant.
The experiment was simple. The dog owners were given a container that they struggled to open and then had to ask a researcher for assistance. The researcher responded in one of three ways: helping the dog owner, standing there passively, or refusing to help at all. The researchers then gave the dogs a dog treat.
Overall, the dogs were more likely to accept the treat from researchers who helped or were passive towards their owners. The dogs were also more likely to ignore the treat from the rude researchers who did not help their owners.
This shows that even though the researcher was not unkind to the dog itself, the dog didn't want treats from someone who was rude to their owner.
Though people may assume that cats are better judges of character, this study proves otherwise.
It just goes to show that dogs pay more attention than we think! It also shows that animals don't exclusively act in self-interest, and they really do have our best intentions at heart.
Though I'm not really surprised to learn my dog may be a better judge of character than I am, it is still interesting to learn.
It's a pretty nifty vetting process, if you ask me!
Want more dog-detective energy, see how canine lovers “dish out information” on good people. Canine Lovers Gather Together To Dish Out Information On If And How Dogs Can Sense Good People
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