Dog
intelligence 'not exceptional'
University of Exeter
 |
| WRONG! |
Scientists reviewed
evidence that compared the brain power of dogs with other domestic animals,
other social hunters and other carnivorans (an order including animals such as
dogs, wolves, bears, lions and hyenas).
The researchers, from
the University of Exeter and Canterbury Christ Church University, found the
cognitive abilities of dogs were at least matched by several species in each of
these groups.
The study examined
more than 300 papers on the intelligence of dogs and other animals, and found
several cases of "over interpretation" in favour of dogs' abilities.
"During our work it seemed to us that many studies in dog cognition research set out to 'prove' how clever dogs are," said Professor Stephen Lea, of the University of Exeter.
"They are often
compared to chimpanzees and whenever dogs 'win', this gets added to their
reputation as something exceptional.
"Yet in each and
every case we found other valid comparison species that do at least as well as
dogs do in those tasks."
The review focused on
sensory cognition, physical cognition, spatial cognition, social cognition and
self-awareness.
"Taking all three
groups (domestic animals, social hunters and carnivorans) into account, dog
cognition does not look exceptional," said Dr Britta Osthaus, of Canterbury
Christ Church University.
"We are doing dogs no favour by expecting too much of them. Dogs are dogs, and we need to take their needs and true abilities into account when considering how we treat them."