Amin Azadian and Alexandra Protopopova (2024) investigated cognitive and behavioral differences across five dog breed clades—UK Rural, Retrievers, Asian Spitz, European Mastiff, and New World—using a virtual learning task with 111 dogs. Owners also completed questionnaires measuring impulsivity and reward responsiveness.
The study tested dogs through four stages: Acquisition (learning a hand-touch behavior), Discrimination (reinforcing the correct choice between two hands), Reversal Learning (switching the correct choice), and Extinction (withholding reinforcement). Performance varied significantly across breed clades, particularly in discrimination and reversal learning.
Importantly, differences were not attributed solely to inherent cognitive traits. Instead, the researchers suggest that human–dog cooperativity and breed history influenced outcomes. For example, breeds historically selected for close cooperation with humans may learn differently from those bred for more independent work.
The findings highlight that dog learning is shaped by both genetics and human interaction. Breed-specific tendencies in flexibility, persistence, and responsiveness may reflect historical functions, offering valuable insights into training strategies and welfare considerations for modern dogs.
Source: Azadian, A., & Protopopova, A. (2024). Exploring breed differences in discrimination, reversal learning, and resistance to extinction in the domestic dog (Canis familiaris). Journal: Scientific Reports, Volume 14. Publication Date: 2024-10-15. Authors: Amin Azadian, Alexandra Protopopova. References: 68. Citations: 1.
