It is very common that dogs households are subjected to processes of training to learn commands. But recently there was a study done in India where researchers found that the stray dogs understand human gestures naturally. Read on to understand how scientists arrived at this startling discovery.
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The sad reality of stray dogs in the world
There are millions of dogs roaming the planet, and a large proportion of them are in India. In this sense, it is common that, sometimes, stray dogs come into conflict with people, in addition to represent a risk to public health, since they may be carriers of rabies, a virus capable of lead to death.
In view of this complicated situation, it is important that research be carried out in order to identify information about the stray dogs, as well as their behavior, as this understanding is fundamental to solve the problems of the relationship between these animals and the people.
Study shows stray dogs understand human gestures
Anindita Bhadra conducted a survey of approximately 160 dogs living on the streets of cities across India. In the study, the animals were initially placed in front of two covered pots, one of which contained raw chicken and the other had only the smell of the food.
Soon after, a second researcher (who didn't know the contents of each container) appeared and pointed to one of the pots, as if giving a kind of command to the animals. The action could last for a second or longer, and the scientist's hands were not near the bowls.
Regarding the results, almost half of the dogs did not get close to the researchers, as many of them showed anxiety and certainly had bad experiences with people before, explained Bhadra.
However, it is important to highlight that, of the half of the dogs that approached, about 80% went in the direction of the pot to which the second researcher pointed, that is, they understood the human gesture. However, if the dogs discovered that the container was empty, they would probably not follow the gesture again.
Finally, the study suggests that untrained dogs can identify with humans, despite likely traumatic experiences already lived with them. These findings can teach adults and children to interact better with these animals, resulting in a safer coexistence for both.