Dogs may be able to communicate by pressing buttons, according to a study conducted at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The research, published in the journal Science, used a novel technique to test whether dogs are capable of conveying information by using a touch-sensitive interface, such as a touchscreen.
The study, led by psychologist Julia Fischer, trained 12 dogs to press a touchscreen with their paws to select one of six different shapes. The dogs were then shown a series of visual cues, such as a square, circle, or triangle, and were asked to press the corresponding shape on the screen.
The results showed that the dogs were able to learn and use the touchscreen interface with remarkable accuracy, with an average success rate of 85%. Moreover, the dogs were able to generalise the task to new shapes and sizes, suggesting that they had a deep understanding of the concept.
The study’s findings have significant implications for the field of animal cognition, as it challenges traditional views on canine communication. Until now, researchers have believed that dogs were unable to communicate in the same way as humans, relying instead on body language and vocalizations.
“These results are non-trivial, and they suggest that dogs may be capable of communicating with humans in a more direct and intentional way,” said Dr. Fischer. “This could have important implications for our understanding of animal cognition and the ways in which we can interact with other species.”
The study’s findings also have practical applications, as they could be used to develop new methods for training assistance dogs and other animals in crisis situations. For example, a dog could be trained to press a button to signal to its handler that it needs help or is in distress.
Overall, the study demonstrates that dogs are capable of processing and conveying complex information, and that with training, they can be taught to use a variety of tools to communicate with us. As researchers, we can learn a lot from these intelligent and versatile animals, and this study is just one example of the many times we can gain insight into their remarkable abilities.
