Puppy to the Rescue: Dogs Sense Need, Run to Help

Ever wonder what lengths your dog might go to if you were in trouble? New research suggests that depending on the dog, even doors can’t stand in the way of a rescue effort. And for those that didn’t push the door open, they may have cared so much that they were paralyzed with worry.


Puppy to the Rescue: Dogs Sense Need, Run to Help

“We found dogs not only sense what their owners are feeling, if a dog knows a way to help them, they’ll go through barriers to provide help to them,” said study author Emily Sanford, a graduate student in psychological and brain sciences at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.

“Every dog owner has a story about coming home from a long day, sitting down for a cry and the dog’s right there, licking their face. In a way, this is the science behind that,” she said.

“Dogs have been by the side of humans for tens of thousands of years, and they’ve learned to read our social cues,” Sanford explained in a Hopkins news release. “Our findings reinforce that idea, and show that, like Lassie, dogs who know their people are in trouble might spring into action.”

The study included 34 dogs of various breeds and sizes, and their owners, who were placed behind a clear door held shut with magnets. The dogs could see and hear their owners, who were told to either hum “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” or cry.

Overall, the dogs did not open the door more often when their owners cried. But the dogs who did open the door when their owners cried opened it three times faster than dogs whose owners were humming.

The researchers also measured the dogs’ stress levels. They found that dogs who pushed through the door to be with their owners showed less stress, meaning that while they were upset by the crying, they were able to take action.

Dogs that didn’t push open the door may have simply loved their masters too much, the researchers suggested. Those dogs showed the most stress from their owner’s crying, the study authors found.

The finding was published July 24, 2018 in the journal Learning & Behavior.

Article Source: webmd.com

Photo Source: webmd.com

If you have any questions about this subject or would like to speak to us about any of your Medicare needs in regards to Medicare supplement, Medicare Advantage or Part D prescription drug plans, I would certainly be very happy to speak with you.

I am an independent agent specializing in the senior market. My services to you will always be FREE. I would be very happy to look at your current coverage and compare it to the marketplace to make sure that you are still getting a good value.

Billy Williams
800-499-1942
MedicareHealthInsuranceOptions.com