Assistance and Therapy Dogs Are Better Problem Solvers Than Both Trained and Untrained Family Dogs.

ABSTRACT: When faced with unsolvable or difficult situations dogs use different behavioral strategies. If they are motivated to obtain rewards, they either try to solve the problem on their own or tend to interact with a human partner. Based on the observation that in problem situations less successful and less perseverant dogs look more at the humans' face, some authors claim that the use of social strategies is detrimental to attempting an independent solution in dogs. Training may have an effect on dogs' problem-solving performance. We compared the behavior of (1) untrained, (2) trained for recreational purposes, and (3) working dogs: assistance and therapy dogs living in families (N = 90). During the task, dogs had to manipulate an apparatus with food pellets hidden inside. We measured the behav

SUBMITTER: Carballo F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7145387 | biostudies-literature | 2020

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature