A recent study by Ripon College, and reported in the journal of Learning And Behavior*, suggest that dogs may empathize with their
owner’s distress. This conclusion was made after researchers tested if “dogs
will actually take an action trying to alleviate that distress,” says Julia
Meyers-Manor, an assistant professor of psychology and co-author of the study.
The
study had 34 pairs of owners and dogs (variety of breeds and ages) divided into
two groups. They then separated the owner and the dog by a glass door. The
owners in one group “pretended” to need help and the other stayed monotone and
just hummed. Half the dogs in each group opened the door to get to their owner,
but the dogs that thought their owner was in distress did so much faster (23 seconds
vs. 96 seconds). The findings suggest that dogs may show empathy for their owner’s distress
and want to help. Also, these tended to be the same dogs that scored higher on another
owner/dog bond test.
Regardless of the results, nearly all
the owners thought “their” dog would absolutely come to their rescue if needed.
Isn't this what we pet lovers have known all along? Our pets are always there for us and will do anything they can to help us feel better.
*Sanford,
E.M., Burt, E.R. & Meyers-Manor, J.E. Learn Behav (2018).
https://doi.org/10.3758/s13420-018-0332-3
