Social Referencing in Domestic Dogs: The Effects of Human Affective Behavior on Canines Point Fol... more Social Referencing in Domestic Dogs: The Effects of Human Affective Behavior on Canines Point Following Peggy J. Gartman Department of Psychology, BYU Master of Science A number of studies have examined the ability of dogs (Canis Familiaris) to follow human given cues. Dogs have been shown to reliably follow pointing cues. To date, few studies have investigated whether emotional cues are a factor in these canine choices. We tested dogs using a two-way object choice food task. Sixty large and medium breed dogs were tested in one of four conditions (positive baited, silent baited, negative non-baited and negative baited). Results showed that dogs reliably followed human pointing cues over emotional cues in three of the four conditions. In the negative non-baited bowl, dogs did not select the non-indicated, baited bowl over chance. This suggests that canines use pointing as a more salient cue than emotions in object choice tasks.
Several studies have examined dogs' (Canis lupus ... more Several studies have examined dogs' (Canis lupus familiaris) comprehension and use of human communicative cues. Relatively few studies have, however, examined the effects of human affective behavior (i.e., facial and vocal expressions) on dogs' exploratory and point-following behavior. In two experiments, we examined dogs' frequency of following an adult's pointing gesture in locating a hidden reward or treat when it occurred silently, or when it was paired with a positive or negative facial and vocal affective expression. Like prior studies, the current results demonstrate that dogs reliably follow human pointing cues. Unlike prior studies, the current results also demonstrate that the addition of a positive affective facial and vocal expression, when paired with a pointing gesture, did not reliably increase dogs' frequency of locating a hidden piece of food compared to pointing alone. In addition, and within the negative facial and vocal affect conditions of Experiment 1 and 2, dogs were delayed in their exploration, or approach, toward a baited or sham-baited bowl. However, in Experiment 2, dogs continued to follow an adult's pointing gesture, even when paired with a negative expression, as long as the attention-directing gesture referenced a baited bowl. Together these results suggest that the addition of affective information does not significantly increase or decrease dogs' point-following behavior. Rather these results demonstrate that the presence or absence of affective expressions influences a dogs' exploratory behavior and the presence or absence of reward affects whether they will follow an unfamiliar adult's attention-directing gesture.
Several studies have examined dogs' (Canis lupus familiaris) comprehension and use of human c... more Several studies have examined dogs' (Canis lupus familiaris) comprehension and use of human communicative cues. Relatively few studies have, however, examined the effects of human affective behavior (i.e., facial and vocal expressions) on dogs' exploratory and point-following behavior. In two experiments, we examined dogs' frequency of following an adult's pointing gesture in locating a hidden reward or treat when it occurred silently, or when it was paired with a positive or negative facial and vocal affective expression. Like prior studies, the current results demonstrate that dogs reliably follow human pointing cues. Unlike prior studies, the current results also demonstrate that the addition of a positive affective facial and vocal expression, when paired with a pointing gesture, did not reliably increase dogs' frequency of locating a hidden piece of food compared to pointing alone. In addition, and within the negative facial and vocal affect conditions of Ex...
Social Referencing in Domestic Dogs: The Effects of Human Affective Behavior on Canines Point Fol... more Social Referencing in Domestic Dogs: The Effects of Human Affective Behavior on Canines Point Following Peggy J. Gartman Department of Psychology, BYU Master of Science A number of studies have examined the ability of dogs (Canis Familiaris) to follow human given cues. Dogs have been shown to reliably follow pointing cues. To date, few studies have investigated whether emotional cues are a factor in these canine choices. We tested dogs using a two-way object choice food task. Sixty large and medium breed dogs were tested in one of four conditions (positive baited, silent baited, negative non-baited and negative baited). Results showed that dogs reliably followed human pointing cues over emotional cues in three of the four conditions. In the negative non-baited bowl, dogs did not select the non-indicated, baited bowl over chance. This suggests that canines use pointing as a more salient cue than emotions in object choice tasks.
Several studies have examined dogs' (Canis lupus ... more Several studies have examined dogs' (Canis lupus familiaris) comprehension and use of human communicative cues. Relatively few studies have, however, examined the effects of human affective behavior (i.e., facial and vocal expressions) on dogs' exploratory and point-following behavior. In two experiments, we examined dogs' frequency of following an adult's pointing gesture in locating a hidden reward or treat when it occurred silently, or when it was paired with a positive or negative facial and vocal affective expression. Like prior studies, the current results demonstrate that dogs reliably follow human pointing cues. Unlike prior studies, the current results also demonstrate that the addition of a positive affective facial and vocal expression, when paired with a pointing gesture, did not reliably increase dogs' frequency of locating a hidden piece of food compared to pointing alone. In addition, and within the negative facial and vocal affect conditions of Experiment 1 and 2, dogs were delayed in their exploration, or approach, toward a baited or sham-baited bowl. However, in Experiment 2, dogs continued to follow an adult's pointing gesture, even when paired with a negative expression, as long as the attention-directing gesture referenced a baited bowl. Together these results suggest that the addition of affective information does not significantly increase or decrease dogs' point-following behavior. Rather these results demonstrate that the presence or absence of affective expressions influences a dogs' exploratory behavior and the presence or absence of reward affects whether they will follow an unfamiliar adult's attention-directing gesture.
Several studies have examined dogs' (Canis lupus familiaris) comprehension and use of human c... more Several studies have examined dogs' (Canis lupus familiaris) comprehension and use of human communicative cues. Relatively few studies have, however, examined the effects of human affective behavior (i.e., facial and vocal expressions) on dogs' exploratory and point-following behavior. In two experiments, we examined dogs' frequency of following an adult's pointing gesture in locating a hidden reward or treat when it occurred silently, or when it was paired with a positive or negative facial and vocal affective expression. Like prior studies, the current results demonstrate that dogs reliably follow human pointing cues. Unlike prior studies, the current results also demonstrate that the addition of a positive affective facial and vocal expression, when paired with a pointing gesture, did not reliably increase dogs' frequency of locating a hidden piece of food compared to pointing alone. In addition, and within the negative facial and vocal affect conditions of Ex...
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