Many dogs actively watch television. But what they react to also depends on their individual character, new research shows. — DANEIL BOCKWOLDT/dpa
Many dogs actively watch television and respond to what happens on the screen, according to new research charting how many dogs don't just see the footage as random, but behave as if the scenes were real.
"Dogs experience a meaningful, object-filled world when they view television," say the authors of a new study led by Lane Montgomery from Auburn University in Alabama, the United States.
For the study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, around 450 dog owners completed detailed questionnaires about their pets' behaviour in front of the television and in everyday situations.
The dogs reportedly reacted particularly strongly to images of animals and typical sounds such as barking and voices, often themselves barking, wagging their tails and rigorously follow the movement on screen.
The researchers distinguished between reactions to animal scenes and other types of scenes, as well as between passive attention and active interest.
The team reported that the dogs' individual temperament was decisive for their behaviour.
Easily excitable dogs were more likely to follow movements on the screen, while anxious dogs reacted more to sounds. However, the age, breed or gender of the animals did not play a role.
Additional engagement
Screen content could potentially serve as an additional form of engagement for dogs, for example, in animal shelters or during prolonged absences of their owners, the study suggested, provided the content was suitable for the individual animal.
However, the study has limitations, as the team itself acknowledged: It's based solely on self-reports from owners, it excludes dogs uninterested in screen footage and lacks objective behavioural analyses.The group therefore recommends further research under controlled conditions.
The findings align with a trend in the pet community towards turning on the TV for dogs. For some time now, the US subscription channel DogTV has been offering an all-day television programme specifically for dogs.
It features nature scenes, other animals and calming music, aiming to relax or stimulate dogs.Critics, however, warn that there is a growing risk that dog owners will assume that television can step in for personal attention. – dpa
