Canine eggheads enjoy playing with toys and retrieving objects.
“Gifted” dogs, who have a rare talent for learning lots of words for objects easily, also turn out to be more playful than other dogs, a new study finds.
Prior research in humans has shown a link between playfulness and problem-solving abilities, so animal behavior researchers from Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest, Hungary, wondered if the same was true for rollicking pups.
What is a gifted dog? In the new study, it was Border collies who had proven in prior research that they were able to learn as many as 12 new words per week and then retain them for months.
To take a closer look at the possible association between giftedness and playfulness in dogs, Claudia Fugazza, a researcher in the university’s department of ethology (the study of animal behavior), and her colleagues asked the owners of 165 Border collies to fill out dog personality questionnaires. Twenty-one of the dogs were gifted and the other 114 were just randomly selected with no testing for word learning ability.
The surveys assessed the personality of the animals in five categories:
- Fearfulness, including fear of people, nonsocial fear, fear of dogs, fear of handling.
- Aggression toward people, including general aggression and aggression in certain situations.
- Activity/Excitability, including excitability, playfulness, active engagement and companionability.
- Responsiveness, such as trainability and controllability.
- Aggression toward animals, including aggression toward dogs, prey drive and dominance over other dogs.
For the evaluation of playfulness the owners were asked to rate their dogs in three areas:
- Dog gets bored in play quickly.
- Dog enjoys playing with toys.
- Dog retrieves objects, such as balls, toys and sticks.
The researchers focused solely on Border collies because earlier experiments found that the breed is more likely to be good at learning new words compared to others.
After collecting the survey responses, the researchers then compared the responses from owners of gifted dogs to those from the owners of dogs who had not been identified as gifted.
Playfulness was the only personality trait that was consistently different between the two groups.
It’s not clear from the study whether it’s the playfulness that helps the dogs learn more words, or whether the extra playful ones ended up with more opportunities to learn, said Fugazza, the study’s lead author, said in an email. That’s because gifted dogs tend to learn words for objects when their owners are playing with them.
Are playful dogs smarter?
Not exactly.
“Intelligence is the result of diverse cognitive traits that allow individuals to flexibly solve different types of problems,” Fugazza explained. “Giftedness refers to an extremely good capacity in the case of a specific skill.”
So, maybe gifted dogs are like people who score high on the verbal part of the SATs.
If your pup doesn’t learn words easily, it doesn’t mean it’s a dumb dog. Adam Boyko, an expert in canine genomics, reassures owners that canine intelligence is more than that.
“Both dogs and wolves are playful when they are puppies, but dogs really evolved to living in the human environment and to responding to social cues,” said Boyko, a specialist in the genetics of behavior and an associate professor at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. “It’s not surprising that the more playful ones exhibit better learning in the domain of learning human words. And it’s not surprising that Border collies, who are bred to respond to human cues, show the propensity to learn words more than other breeds.”
Other breeds of dogs might show intelligence in other ways, Boyko said. For example, wolves are very intelligent although they don’t typically pick up on human cues.
“But they can figure out how to escape,” said Boyko. “Where dogs would look for a person to help, wolves would see how humans did a latch and lock and then the wolves would do it themselves to get out.”
Boyko would like to take the study a step further and look at the genetics of the gifted dogs.
“This is a tantalizing correlation that might be meaningful if you are trying to build better service dogs,” he said.
One thing that can’t be determined from the study is whether the playfulness trait spurred owners to interact more with their dogs and thus teach them more words, said Dr. Nicholas Dodman, a professor emeritus at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, CEO and president of the Center for Canine Behavior Studies and the author of “Pets on the Couch: Neurotic Dogs, Compulsive Cats, Anxious Birds and the New Science of Animal Psychiatry.”
Dodman said the study is interesting but needs to be replicated in a larger number of dogs.
“I would also like to see it done in a different breed,” he said.
The new findings might help people who want to buy or adopt a puppy. It suggests that playfulness might be a good attribute to consider.
“The playful ones might be more likely to interact with a person, assimilate words more easily and be more intelligent,” said Dodman.
p records Incredible journey of kindness: Boy travels hundreds of kilometers to protect homeless dog from sun and rain
In a world often characterized by its fast pace and relentless challenges, there are stories that shine a light on the enduring power of love, determination, and compassion. The tale of a young boy’s incredible journey, carrying his loyal canine companion for hundreds of kilometers, is one such story that has touched hearts around the globe.
This boy, whose identity remains a mystery, found himself in the harsh and unforgiving reality of homelessness. Without a stable shelter or the support of a loving family, he roamed the streets as a wanderer, navigating the challenges of life as best he could. However, amidst the hardships and uncertainties that defined his existence, he discovered an unbreakable bond with a stray dog who became his steadfast friend and confidant.
Witnessing the vulnerability of his four-legged companion and the dangers that lurked on the streets, the boy made a profound and selfless decision. He resolved to embark on a seemingly insurmountable journey, carrying his beloved dog with him every step of the way, in search of a safer and more secure place they could call home.
Under the scorching sun, with sweat on his brow and dust on his shoes, the boy pressed on along dusty roads, carrying the weight of his loyal friend on his tired shoulders. The physical strain was immense, but it paled in comparison to the emotional connection that bound them together. He knew that he was the dog’s only hope, the source of comfort and protection in a world that offered little solace.
When the skies opened up, and the rain poured relentlessly, turning the paths into treacherous, muddy trails, the boy’s resolve remained unshaken. He shielded his furry companion from the elements as best as he could, providing a haven of love amidst the downpour of nature’s tears.
Their arduous journey was a testament to the strength of their bond and the indomitable spirit of the human heart. The boy’s unwavering love for his canine companion fueled his determination, propelling him forward despite the countless obstacles that lay in their path.
News of their remarkable odyssey began to spread, touching the hearts of many who heard their story. Local communities rallied together, recognizing the extraordinary love and determination exhibited by the boy. Shelters and organizations dedicated to animal welfare stepped in, offering them temporary refuge, essential medical care, and the promise of a brighter future.
The boy’s act of carrying his dog for hundreds of kilometers resonated deeply with people across the globe. It shed light on the immense challenges faced by those experiencing homelessness and the unyielding loyalty and love that animals can bring into their lives.
This incredible tale serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of empathy and compassion, not only for our fellow humans but also for the animals that share our world. It prompts us to reflect on the countless individuals who find themselves without a home, as well as the many strays that wander the streets, yearning for love and care.
The boy’s extraordinary journey will forever stand as a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the transformative power of love. It is a story that will inspire generations to come, reminding us of the resilience and compassion that reside within us all, regardless of our circumstances.
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