A study conducted by scientists from Vienna revealed that dogs possess the ability to detect falsehoods. The experiment involved 260 dogs of various breeds. In the first part of the experiment, two containers, one holding a treat, were placed in front of the dogs.
An unfamiliar person informed the dogs about the location of the treat. Next, the dogs observed as another stranger switched the containers. When a third person arrived to indicate the new hiding spot, more than 50% of the dogs disregarded their instructions, recognizing that the person hadn’t witnessed the container swap. In another test, both the dogs and an observer experienced confusion regarding the food’s location, despite the dogs being familiar with the observer.
When the observer pointed to the incorrect container, two-thirds of the dogs ignored their guidance. However, approximately half of the dogs still fell for the misinformation, suggesting that they prioritize trust in humans over a tasty reward.
The results also indicated that different dog breeds may display varying levels of skepticism, with terriers being the most critical. These hypotheses will be further explored in upcoming experiments.
The dogs’ genetic inclination to form psychological connections with humans and interpret emotions has likely developed over centuries of coexistence.
