Study described as ‘necessary first step’ in discovering whether dogs and humans can use push-button devices to communicate

Beverland’s small study, for example, found that intrinsically motivated people considered the relationship with their dog to be one of mutual respect between two intelligent beings, took seriously the responsibility to care for the dog’s needs, and emphasised the importance of letting their dogs have time off leash to roam and explore. They expressed the desire to let dogs be their ‘authentic’ selves. The extrinsically motivated were more likely to view the human-dog relationship as one-directional, with the owner as the boss of the dog. These owners were interested in dressing up and pampering their dog to meet a certain self-image, and were more likely to neglect the dog’s needs.

After we tell our dog, with a wink, just how cute she is, let’s also take a few minutes to expound on her individual quirks and personality, to contemplate her rich and mysterious inner world. Let’s try to understand who she is behaviourally, what she needs in order to flourish as a dog, and how we can best provide those things. Let’s close our eyes and imagine not how she appears, but who she is. Then, let’s take our regal, beautiful, strange, awe-inspiring dog into the fresh air and let her just be a dog.