The experiment showed that dogs know when we are lying to them or telling the truth.đ€đ€
Scientists from Vienna showed that dogs can detect lies. The experiment was held with 260 dogs of different breeds. In the first part of the experiment, two containers were placed in front of the dogs, one of which contained a treat.
A stranger informed the dogs about the whereabouts of the treat. The dogs then watched as another stranger changed the containers. When a third person arrived to indicate a new hiding place, more than 50% of the dogs ignored his instructions, admitting that this person had not witnessed the container change. In another test, both dogs and the observer found it difficult to find the food, even though the dogs were familiar with the person.
As the person showed the wrong container, two-thirds of the dogs ignored his instructions. Nonetheless, about half of the dogs were confused, which suggests they prioritize trust in humans over tasty rewards.
The results also showed that different dog breeds can show different levels of skepticism, with terriers being the most extreme. These hypotheses will be further researched.
The genetic propensity for dogs to form psychological bonds with humans and grasp emotions has likely evolved over centuries of coexistence.
