Inferring reputation? from third-party interactions in domestic dogs (Canis familiaris)

FREIDIN, E.; MUSTACA, A.E.; BENTOSELA, M.

Jaén

Congreso; 16th Meeting of the International Society for Comparative Psychology (ISCP); 2012

International Society for Comparative Psychology (ISCP)

Dogs can develop a preference towards a generous (someone who gives food) over an ungenerous (someone who doesn?t give food) person after observing the interaction between both target persons and a third individual (the demander). In the present study, we assessed whether dogs could develop a preference between two target persons after the demander reacted either positively or negatively to the targets. Each subject watched while the demander asked the targets for food. Targets always responded by providing food to the demander. Upon receiving food from target+, the demander reacted by saying "So tasty!" and eating the food while oriented towards target+. Upon receiving food from target-, the demander reacted by putting the food back in the target´s plate, saying "So ugly!", and turning around, giving his back to target-. Preliminary results suggest that, after demander-target interactions, observing dogs preferentially approached target+ over target-. However, many dogs did not pay attention to the scene and later did not choose between targets. According to these results, attentive dogs would be able not only to discriminate between the different reactions of the demander, but also to associate a different valence to the targets as a function of the demander´s reactions.