Dogs are aware of when their own bodies present an obstacle to them, according to a study published today (February 18) in Scientific Reports. In the experiment, dogs asked by their owners to pick up an object attached to the mat they’re sitting on apparently understand that they need to move their bodies in order to complete the task.
While several studies have attempted to identify self-awareness in canines, few have successfully done so. Dogs typically fail the well-known mirror test, for example, in which an animal is marked with pen or paint and then presented with a mirror; animals are considered to have passed that test if they investigate the mark, because it suggests they recognize their own reflection.
In this study, researchers used the mat setup to test more than 50 dogs of various breeds, sexes, and ages. The team found that, like elephants and most toddlers, dogs ...
