Researchers have discovered that dogs exhibit preferences for certain television programs
In a groundbreaking study conducted by scientists from Auburn University, Alabama, USA, the viewing habits of dogs have been found to be significantly influenced by their temperament[1][2][3]. The research, which involved 453 dogs aged between 4 months and 16 years, reveals that 88.3% of dogs actively watch TV, with distinct preferences and emotional reactions shaped by their personality traits.
The study identified three main viewing styles linked to temperament: excitable dogs, anxious or fearful dogs, and dogs with a neutral temperament.
Excitable dogs tend to focus on and follow moving objects on the screen, showing more engagement with dynamic content, especially that featuring animals. They display anticipatory following behaviors as if tracking objects in three dimensions[2][3][4].
Anxious or fearful dogs react more strongly to non-animal stimuli on TV, such as human voices, doorbells, car horns, or other inanimate noises rather than animal sounds or images[1][2][3][4]. Their responses are more cautious or nervous, indicating a sensitivity to sounds or visuals associated with potential threats or alert stimuli.
Dogs overall show a marked preference for animal-related content, such as other dogs barking or howling, compared to human or inanimate object-focused shows. About 45% of dogs respond actively to animal stimuli on TV[1][3].
The findings suggest that dogs perceive TV images as meaningful representations of real-world objects and sounds, and their reactions mirror their real-life responses based on personality. This nuanced engagement shows that dogs do not watch TV mindlessly but have distinct preferences and emotional reactions shaped by their temperament[1][2][3][4].
According to the study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, understanding these temperament-based preferences can be valuable for improving pet welfare, enhancing enrichment in shelters, and managing problematic behaviors like barking triggered by particular TV sounds or images[2][4].
Last year, a separate study published in the journal PLOS Biology found that dogs understand human speech better when spoken to slowly[5]. This finding is consistent with the current study's results, as it indicates that dogs process information more effectively at a slower speech pace, even if they can't produce sounds themselves. People may intuitively adjust their speech tempo to communicate more effectively with their pets.
The report on the study was made by Charter97.org, and no information was provided about whether the length of time a dog pays attention to human speech affects its understanding. The study did not provide any information about the connection between dogs' temperament and their ability to understand human speech at different speech paces or about any relationship between dogs' TV viewing preferences and their ability to understand human speech.
Sources: [1] https://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/dogs-watch-tv-temperament-study-auburn-university-b1859934.html [2] https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/01/210128151200.htm [3] https://phys.org/news/2021-01-dogs-tv-temperament-scientists.html [4] https://www.charter97.org/ru/news/2021/1/28/279568/ [5] https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3001367
Science indicates that a dog's temperament significantly influences their television viewing habits, with excitable dogs exhibiting more engagement with dynamic animal content, and anxious or fearful dogs reacting more strongly to non-animal stimuli. Additionally, the study published in Scientific Reports suggests understanding these preferences can aid in improving pet welfare and managing problematic behaviors, aligning with the finding that dogs process information more effectively at a slower speech pace, as reported in another study published in PLOS Biology.
