Popular Science pointed to the tendency of dogs to selflessly help people

Dogs, unlike cats, tend to help people selflessly, which resembles the behavior of small children. This was reported by Popular Science magazine on February 27.

In an experiment, psychologists from the Etves Lorand University of Hungary studied the ability of animals and humans to exhibit prosocial behavior — actions aimed at helping others without expectation of reward.

The experiment involved having a guardian—either a parent with a young child or an owner with a pet—look for an object hidden in plain sight of a dog, cat, or toddler. It is important that the guardian did not ask for help, but searched for the item on his own. The researchers assessed whether the pet or child was trying to help by pointing at an object or approaching it.

The results showed that more than 75% of dogs and children aged 18 to 24 months helped adults by guiding them to the subject. Experts noted that this indicates a strong motivation to help, even without prior training or reward.

Unlike dogs and children, cats rarely helped, although they showed interest in what was happening. It is important that cats began to help only if the object that the person was looking for was related to their personal interest, for example, if it was a treat or a toy.

The researchers believe that these differences in behavior can be explained by evolutionary differences between species: dogs were originally social animals, while cats are loners by nature, preferring to interact with humans for practical benefits such as food and shelter.

However, the authors of the study emphasize that their findings are not a criticism of cats. Despite their independence, cats can also show concern, but they often stay away if they don't see a clear reason to help.

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On February 6, Vladimir Golubev, President of the Russian Cynological Federation, announced that a dog can recognize human fear. According to him, this feeling has a smell. However, this does not mean that the animal will necessarily react aggressively to fear.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.