A new experiment has shown that dogs do not always offer selfless help to humans; in fact, the anticipation of a treat has a much stronger influence on their behavior.

Previous studies have indicated that dogs are inclined to cooperate and help not only people but also other dogs. It has been established that these animals can perform actions that benefit others, even if they themselves do not receive a reward. However, the results of such experiments have often been contradictory.

Some experts have suggested that dogs may act not out of altruistic motives, but in expectation of their own reward. To test this hypothesis, researchers from the Centre for Comparative and Evolutionary Psychology at the University of Portsmouth (UK) conducted an experiment, the results of which were published in the journal Animal Cognition.

Experiment Description

The experiment used a special setup with a vertical rope, as it is more natural for predators like dogs to pull prey downward rather than perform horizontal movements, as in previous studies.

Sixteen domestic dogs participated in the trials. The animals completed six different tasks, including preliminary training and control tests to ensure they understood the task. Depending on the conditions, pulling the rope resulted in a treat being given either to the dog itself, to a human, to both at the same time, or to no one. Additionally, the researchers checked whether the recipient of the reward—either the dog's owner or a stranger—affected the dog's behavior.

Research Results

Dogs pulled the rope significantly more often when the treat was intended for themselves, regardless of whether a human also received it. If the food was meant only for the human or for no one, the dogs quickly lost interest in the task. The presence of a person nearby had almost no effect on the animals' behavior.

No significant difference was found in the dogs' reactions to their owners versus strangers. Dogs did not become more generous toward their owners and, in some cases, even performed the required action more often in the presence of a stranger. However, this effect was much weaker compared to their motivation to receive a reward for themselves.

Conclusions and Future Plans

The researchers noted that the experiment's results do not indicate a lack of empathy in dogs. They suggested that food rewards are such a strong stimulus that they may overshadow any possible prosocial motives. In other words, when a reward is associated with a treat, the dog primarily focuses on obtaining it for itself.

In the future, the team plans to conduct tests in which helping a human is not linked to receiving food. According to the authors, increasing the number of participants would likely not change the overall picture, despite the relatively small sample size.