Dogs’ ability to follow human gestures, such as pointing, is considered a cornerstone of their unique communication skills with humans. McCartney and Leavens (2024) investigated whether this ability was shaped more by selective breeding or by training and life experience.
The researchers tested 54 dogs in the object-choice task, a widely used method to study canine response to pointing. The dogs were divided into three groups: actively working dogs (e.g., police, search-and-rescue, assistance dogs), pet dogs from working breeds, and pet dogs from non-working breeds (toy breeds, mixed breeds, mongrels).
Results showed that both actively working dogs and pet dogs from working breeds outperformed the non-working breeds in following pointing cues. Interestingly, these two groups also preferred to respond to familiar humans rather than unfamiliar ones, challenging previous assumptions that working dogs are less influenced by familiarity.
The findings suggest that selective breeding for cooperative work enhances dogs’ attentiveness to human signals. Moreover, training and experience further refine these abilities, reinforcing the idea that both genetic history and life history shape dogs’ socio-cognitive skills.
Source: McCartney, J. M., & Leavens, D. A. (2024). The Role of Life History and Familiarity in Performance of Working and Non-Working Dogs (Canis lupus familiaris) in a Point-Following Task. Animals, 14. Published February 1, 2024.
