All dog owners are guilty at some time or another of ascribing what we consider human-centric attributes to their beloved companions. These include behaviours, personality, intentions, and emotions. For example, ‘my dog loves me’, or ‘my dog knows when it has done something it shouldn’t have’. Personifying non-human entities is referred to as ‘anthropormophism’. Humans tend to do this innately, with its routes traceable to ancient cultures and religions around the world. The subject came to the forefront of scientific attention in the 1890s when the idea that non-human animals were not just ‘simple machines’ began to be challenged.
Today, there is no doubt that dogs play a large role in the lives of many Australians. In fact, almost half of all households have a dog, many of which are considered to be key members of the family, sometimes even as child substitutes. The grief experienced after the death of a pet is often felt in a similar way to that of a human passing, and there is a long history of people risking their lives to save their dogs during natural disasters and other emergencies.
The key ingredient to the success of the dog is their similarity to human social cognitions and behaviours. They have an uncanny knack of being able to read and interpret even the most subtle of human behaviours.
However, it may be getting to the point where people who love their dogs, are making the mistake of expecting dogs to act like people do, and to like the same things people do. For example, many owners treat their dogs like they do people by giving them human names, dressing them up in human clothes, letting them sleep in their beds, feeding them human food, and expecting them not to carry out their instinctive behaviours (such as chasing small fluffy things, or scent marking). It is easy to forget that the dog is, in fact, a dog and has many needs (such as exercise, diet) that need to be considered.
It is no coincidence that dogs are one of the most successful domesticated animals. The history of the domestic dog is somewhat debateable, but we do know that the dog and the wolf share a common ancestor, and that dogs have co-evolved alongside humans for around 10,000 years. The key ingredient to the success of the dog is their similarity to human social cognitions and behaviours. They have an uncanny knack of being able to read and interpret even the most subtle of human behaviours. Dogs have the gotten best out of this whole arrangement- they use their incredible social skills to become astute human manipulators. Arguably, dogs are better at reading our behaviours than we are at reading theirs! Domestication has come at a small cost to dogs (that is, the loss of some cognitive abilities and behaviour as humans do most of their thinking for them), but all-in-all their needs are met, and more.
A cattle dog in outback Queensland Source: Getty Images
I think in many ways it is we who are guilty of interpreting the dogs’ impressive social skills in the same manner that we would interpret a human doing a similar thing.
This might explain, for example, the belief of many owners that their dog experiences guilt when they have been caught doing something they know they are not supposed to. Does the dog know right from wrong, or it is reacting to the cues (however subtle) of the owner who is obviously displeased? The behaviour being the anticipation of the negative consequences that has occurred in the past when such tones or behaviours have been exhibited. Similarly, when an owner is sad, and the dog comes over to comfort the owner - is this a conscious act or the reaction to the owners change in behaviour? I think in many ways it is we who are guilty of interpreting the dogs’ impressive social skills in the same manner that we would interpret a human doing a similar thing.
As science and technology develops, our understanding of dogs and their abilities continues to grow. What we considered anthropormic decades ago, are now considered normal. Perhaps one of the biggest questions left to answer, is whether our dogs love us. Recently, scientists have delved inside the brains of dogs using MRI technology. This has given us a unique insight into such concepts. For example, if you show a dog a photograph of their owner, areas of the brain that relate to pleasure and happiness are activated. Unfortunately, just as we cannot ask our dogs such questions, we are also making assumptions that the dogs perceive or interpret things in the same way humans do. Regardless, this is a promising finding for those seeking evidence that their dogs love them. As a scientist, I take the more cautious interpretation, but a piece of me secretly hopes that my dogs love me as much as I love them. Perhaps in 10 years time, this article might look completely different.
Dr Bradley Smith is a senior lecturer in psychology at the University of Central Queensland, specialising in canine cognition and the relationship between humans and animals.
Dr Smith will appear on tonight's episode of Insight looking at the emotions of dogs (and their human companions) | Puppy Love - 8:30pm SBS
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