Thousands of years ago, wolves lived around human campsites. They barked out warnings and joined in hunting expeditions. In return, they were fed scraps. Today, millions of dogs live under the same roof as humans, watch TV and receive better healthcare and food than many homeless people. So who exactly is this pet?

Envy over treats

Scientists in Austria have just discovered that dogs can envy each other treats. In an experiment dogs were supposed to place a paw in a person’s hand, getting a treat in return. When a dog wasn’t rewarded, while the other dogs were, he refused to obey commands and perform the task. The unrewarded dogs also exhibited stress by licking or scratching themselves. Basically, I am not going to work if my buddy is getting the dog’s biscuit and me not.

The whole article: Analyze Your Dog (pdf)

Bridge January-February 2010 | |