Published in Animal Cognition, the study by E. Prato-Previde and colleagues examined how domestic dogs of different ages communicate about an out-of-reach reward. Showing behavior includes signals such as gaze alternation, vocalizations, and body postures used to direct a human’s attention toward a target the dog cannot reach independently.
The researchers compared 4–6 month old puppies with 2–11 year old adult dogs in a classic task in which food was visibly placed inside one of two cabinets. Crucially, the owner remained unaware of the food location, creating a scenario where the dog’s communicative effort could serve to “inform” the human partner. Dogs were assessed across three conditions: an owner present with food, an owner present without food, and being alone with food.
Results confirmed that dogs engaged in more gaze alternations when both the food and the owner were present, supporting the idea that showing behavior is intentional and referential—not merely reactive. Surprisingly, the researchers found no significant differences between puppies and adults in the frequency or structure of these communicative signals.
These findings offer compelling early evidence that the cognitive foundations for interspecific communication between dogs and humans may emerge very early in development. This challenges assumptions that such behaviors require long-term learning or experience and highlights the remarkable social sensitivity of young dogs.
The authors emphasize the need for further studies to explore factors influencing showing behavior, including breed differences, training levels, and developmental trajectories through longitudinal research. Understanding how dogs naturally attempt to share information could deepen insights into the evolution of human–dog cooperation.
Source: Prato-Previde, E., Pedretti, G., Terruzzi, E., & Valsecchi, P. (2023). When the owner does not know: comparing puppies and adult dogs’ showing behavior. Animal Cognition. Published January 31, 2023.
