Dogs Demonstrate Remarkable Cross-Species Emotional Recognition

Our loyal companions, dogs, have demonstrated an extraordinary ability to recognise and respond to human and canine emotions, according to a study published in Biology Letters by Albuquerque et al.

In the animal kingdom, the ability to discern emotional expressions is vital for understanding social intentions and motivations. Traditionally, this skill is observed within species. However, domestic dogs might find it advantageous to recognise human and canine emotions, as they typically live in mixed-species groups. The study suggests that the combination of visual and auditory cues aids dogs in categorising emotions, showcasing high-level cognition.

The researchers presented 17 healthy, socialised family dogs of various breeds with human and dog faces displaying different emotional expressions – happy/playful or angry/aggressive. These visual stimuli were paired with corresponding positive or negative vocalisations or random noise. The results showed that dogs consistently looked longer at the face whose expression matched the consistent accompanying vocalisation, irrespective of stimulus species, emotional type, stimulus gender, or stimulus position, demonstrating a level of emotional recognition previously known only in primates. This suggests that dogs have a sophisticated cognitive capacity, going beyond simple associative processes.

The ability to recognise and categorise emotions from both humans and dogs is an advantageous social tool for dogs, particularly given their close relationships with humans. As dogs continue to be an integral part of human lives, unravelling the intricacies of their emotional intelligence enhances our appreciation for the deep and unique bond we share with them.

This article is based on Albuquerque N, et al. Biol Lett. 2016;12:20150883.


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