Recent research from Kyoto University has provided valuable insights into the social cognition of dogs, challenging the long-held belief that they can 'judge' humans based on their actions. This study, conducted in collaboration with the Clever Dog Lab at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, Austria, involved 40 dogs of various breeds and ages. The findings suggest that dogs do not exhibit a clear preference for generous individuals over selfish ones, even after witnessing their behavior. This research contributes to the ongoing debate about how dogs perceive and interact with humans.
In the experiment, dogs were presented with two unfamiliar individuals: one who shared food and another who did not. The dogs' choices showed no significant inclination towards the generous person, regardless of their age or prior experiences. This suggests that the formation of reputations in dogs might be more complex than previously thought. This study also adds to existing research exploring dogs' ability to assess humans. For instance, a 2015 study indicated that dogs might reject individuals who are unkind to their owners. However, the capacity of dogs to create reputations based on observed behaviors remains a topic of discussion in the scientific community.
Further research could explore different canine populations, such as service dogs or police dogs, to better understand how dogs form judgments about humans in various settings. This study provides clarity and rigor to the debate on the social cognition of dogs, challenging the idea that these animals can form reputations about people based on observed behaviors. The relationship between humans and dogs remains an inexhaustible source of scientific questions, challenges, and surprises; and that 'infallible instinct' that many attribute to dogs to judge people has not yet been proven.