Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: stevewillie on 14/09/2008 22:41:47

Title: Can changing the rules damage dogs' learning ability?
Post by: stevewillie on 14/09/2008 22:41:47

I've been told that dogs can become confused and neurotic when the rules are changed. For example, a dog allowed have its own space in the house for a while, and later is "evicted". The rules are laid when when dogs are puppies, but later, if some rules are changed arbitrarily the dog actually looses some of its ability to be retrained. Is this true? I'm not talking about old dogs, but dogs over about one year old.

Title: Can changing the rules damage dogs' learning ability?
Post by: atrox on 15/09/2008 00:28:05

I dont think so.
There are a lot of people which are realizing after a while, that they can´t handle their dog and need help... and normally they can find help teaching the dog whats wrongan right.
But of course it is harder to set new rules. But it´s nothing else with Kids.
If they are allowed to eat icecream whenever they want for the first 6 years of their life, they wont understand if you suddently prohibit these behaviour and you would need to be really consitent.
It´s the same with dogs...its much easier to show them the basics of right behaviour when they are young, but it´s not impossible to teach them something completely different... but it depends on the character of the animal, how hard or easy this would be.
But whats really confusing for a dog is, when more than one person is involved in the teaching process, but each of them draw different lines of what is allowed and what not

Title: Can changing the rules damage dogs' learning ability?
Post by: Don_1 on 15/09/2008 16:20:49

Quote from: atrox on 15/09/2008 00:28:05

But whats really confusing for a dog is, when more than one person is involved in the teaching process, but each of them draw different lines of what is allowed and what not

I agree with this, dogs are pack animals and need to know who the top dog is and where his/her place in the pack (family) is. It's best that the rules are kept the same from the top dog down.

Title: Can changing the rules damage dogs' learning ability?
Post by: Bored chemist on 15/09/2008 17:34:49

I don't know much about dogs but I can't see any evolutionary strategy that would favour losing the ability to learn (at least until you are too old to reproduce- then all bets are off).

Title: Can changing the rules damage dogs' learning ability?
Post by: stevewillie on 16/09/2008 06:06:15

Quote from: Bored chemist on 15/09/2008 17:34:49

I don't know much about dogs but I can't see any evolutionary strategy that would favour losing the ability to learn (at least until you are too old to reproduce- then all bets are off).

Yes. I think that most domestic dog breeds would not survive without humans. Depending on humans is maladaptive for independent survival. Even feral dogs depend on human generated food sources. Left alone only a few of the more robust breeds might survive like the dingos.