Dogs learn morals from owners
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New research has gone to the dogs and discovered that canines pick up on the morals of their owners.
Research by University of Vienna scientists reveals that dogs "show a strong aversion to inequity", and can develop a sense of right and wrong.
The Austrian experts base their theories on the fact dogs will play with each other but this will rarely end in a full-on scrap, showing they abide by social rules.
LandSAR search dog handler Dave Krehic believed dogs like his five-year-old German shorthaired pointer Stig learned their sense of right and wrong from their owners.
"It's totally how someone brings it up. It's just like a child," said Krehic.
However, nature played a part as well as nurture. "They are a living thing and like humans there are some good ones and there are some bad ones. Some people say their dog would never be aggressive, but I think that could be brought out in most of them."
University of Otago associate professor of animal behaviour Ian Jamieson said it could be argued that dogs had developed a perceived "morality" as a way to order their society.
"Humans, like dogs, are very social and you need to have certain rules of engagement, otherwise there is complete chaos," said Jamieson. "People are interpreting morality in that sense when they look at dogs, but they could well be very basic fundamental behaviours that animals exhibit."
The president of the Selwyn District Kennel Society, Gary Doyle, said dogs could do more than just behave in a morally correct way they could expose some people by their actions. "We used a dog I had as a barometer of who we should sell pups to. If he went over to them and stayed by them, it was a sign he didn't trust them."
- © Fairfax NZ News
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I think this may have been just a waste of time. I read an article about something that was figured out years ago (at least every honest dog owner I know knows there is a good and bad side to their pet). Not once was there mention of why this is important or what impact it may have on the world. I really just don't see the point here.
At first I thought that to be opposite, but maybe he was saying that if the dog went to the puppy when it was being held or handled by a propective owner- than it means he didn't trust the human......otherwise yeah, its supposed to be opposite that.
I think anyone who has been around certain animals like dogs will readily recognize how they are pretty good judges of human character.
dogs are very protective of their owner and any other animals that they like dogs do have likes and dislikes.A owner has to train his dog with rewards and kindness a dog has intelligence and are wonerful animals.
Mango Lassie..Hitler had dogs, you just need to observe their behaviour when with his master..is quite frightening to watch.
I agree John, I have the same expirience with my dogs. they also showed some distress in lifting their heckles. my cats also show like and dislike quite strongly. when they stay away from my visitors, I know something is not quite right. ..to post #5..cal jones, my dogs would not like you!!
Pretty light on the information article.
It must however be true, I often come home to find my dog on the couch, drinking a burbon with her nose deep in the latest issue of FHM. And when the mother in-law comes to the door she hides under the couch and pretends no-body is home ;)
Couldn't a dog that comes over to me and stays would rather do that than stay with their current owner because I display a warm heart and a loving temperament? Why is that a sign of trust if they don't want to stand by me? What a load of bollocks.
I am not quite sure dogs abide by social rules, as in human social rules either?
Without any evidence or research results this is just a bunch of words strung together to seem like journalism. And somebody got paid for this? Where do I apply? Disappointed.
must be a pretty cruisey job being a researcher getting paid to do research on rubbish like this
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Yes, the bulk of this article is just opinions, it is a cutestuff story after all, not a scientific journal.
Took me less than 5 seconds to find this on google though http://www.wolfscience.at/english/research/blog/04July2008/
It's only a blog but it names the researchers and their methods.