By Ellen O’Leary
Boston.com Staff
September 20, 2014 3:59 PM
Dogs are people, too. Or, to be more specific, their outlooks may be closer to ours than we realized. Recent research from the University of Sydney suggests that dogs, like humans, are inclined towards optimism or pessimism.
Dr. Melissa Starling of the Faculty of Veterinary Science published the findings of her Ph.D research on Wednesday. The study, which involved forty dogs that ranged in breed and age, sought to investigate the emotional states of man’s best friend.
The study’s methods are relatively straightforward. First, the dogs learned to associate one audible tone with receiving milk (the preferred reward) and the other, two octaves away, with receiving water. After the animals had grasped this, the researchers introduced tones in between the original two. Dogs were deemed optimistic if they responded to ambiguous tones often, whereas pessimistic dogs were unlikely to do so.
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Starling’s findings may affect the selection of service dogs in the future. While a pessimistic pooch may seem like a bad thing, their tendency towards risk-averse behaviors could make them well-suited to be a guide dog. Optimistic dogs, who are less likely to be deterred by set-backs, may have the temperament of an excellent drug-or bomb-sniffer.
Beyond the realm of working dogs, owners may find this study interesting in terms of training techniques. Furthermore, in a world where dog owners celebrate their pups’ birthdays, pay for luxurious accommodations, or even wheel them around in carriages, the ability to learn whether Spot tends to see the sunnier side of things could be the next new fad.
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