(p. C4) A new study from Rachna Reddy at Duke University, Henry Wellman at the University of Michigan and their colleagues suggests that the special link between people and dogs runs deep. Even toddlers spontaneously treat dogs like people—figuring out what they want and helping them to get it.
. . .
Dr. Reddy and her colleagues enlisted the help of three canine experimenters—kid-friendly small dogs. The researchers showed nearly a hundred 2- to 3-year-olds the dogs in an enclosure, with a platform that was just out of reach. There was a treat on the platform, and the dogs naturally turned to the children and strained toward the treat, gazing at the kids with those notorious puppy-dog eyes. The toddlers spontaneously got the treat off the platform and gave it to the dogs or asked a grown-up to do it for them. Toddlers who had pet dogs at home helped the dogs out on 60% of the trials, but even toddlers without pets helped 40% of the time. The children helped more when the dogs were more engaged with them and were more enthusiastic about getting the treat.
. . .
The study suggests that humans succeeded in domesticating dogs because they spontaneously extended their abilities for cooperation and care to other animals. But this was a two-way street; dogs became adept at using signals that even very young children could understand.
For the full commentary, see:
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(Note: the online version of the commentary has the date March 2, 2023, and has the title “MIND & MATTER; The Deep Bond Between Kids and Dogs.”)
The study discussed in the passages quoted above is: