A study by researchers at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna reveals that dogs respond most effectively when humans combine pointing with direct eye contact. The study, conducted by the Messerli Research Institute for Human-Animal Relations, suggests that dogs have a better understanding of human communication than previously believed.
The research team, working at the institute's Clever Dog Lab, carried out experiments with 20 domestic dogs of breeds including poodles, Australian shepherds, Staffordshire Terriers, and mixed breeds. Each dog was equipped with specialized glasses featuring integrated cameras to track their eye movements, according to Münchner Merkur. This setup allowed the researchers to analyze how the dogs perceive human signals and identify which gestures capture their attention most effectively.
In the experiments, the dogs were placed in front of two bowls, one containing a hidden treat. The researchers tested five different scenarios to observe how quickly and accurately the dogs could identify the correct bowl based on combinations of gestures and gaze cues. According to Spektrum der Wissenschaft, these scenarios included pointing, only gaze direction, a combination of pointing and gaze direction, a fake throw, and a control condition where no signals were provided.
The study found that the dogs responded particularly well when the researcher both pointed to the food bowl and looked at it simultaneously. This combination of gestures led to more frequent and quicker gaze shifts from the dogs, indicating that they understood the signal more clearly.
When only gaze direction was used, the dogs seemed uncertain or waited for another signal, suggesting that gaze direction alone was not sufficient to purposefully direct their attention. Pointing alone was also effective but proved to be less reliable than the combination with eye contact. When the researchers pretended to throw a ball—a fake throw—the dogs were not reliably looking at the exact spot of the hidden food after the gesture, indicating confusion with less clear signals or attempts at deception.
The eye-tracking technology revealed that the dogs' gaze lingered longer on the referent—the hidden treat—when the signal was composed of both a pointing gesture and a fixed gaze.
The findings support the idea that dogs have developed an ability to understand human communication, especially through gestures. For thousands of years, dogs have lived alongside humans, becoming accustomed to living and interacting with us. As man's best friend, they have become loyal companions and family members, demonstrating sensitivity to human communication.
The researchers acknowledge that larger and more diverse groups are necessary to confirm the results. "It would be particularly interesting to compare dogs from shelters and with different training backgrounds, as individual experiences and socialization could have a significant influence," they noted.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.