Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, Duke University, Durham, USA.
Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Duke University, Durham, USA.
Anim Cogn. 2021 Mar;24(2):231-237. doi: 10.1007/s10071-021-01491-7. Epub 2021 Mar 9.
Dogs' special relationship with humans not only makes them ubiquitous in our lives, but working dogs specifically perform essential functions for us such as sniffing out bombs and pulling wheelchairs for the disabled. To enhance the performance of working dogs, it is essential to understand the cognitive skills that underlie and lead to their success. This review details recent work in the field of canine cognition, including how dogs have evolved socio-cognitive skills that mimic or, in some cases, rival even our closest primate relatives. We review how these findings have laid the foundation for new studies that hope to help enhance working dog programs. This includes work that has begun to reveal the development and stability of the most important traits for service work. Discoveries like these suggest the possibility of translating what we have learned to improve breeding, selection, and training for these jobs. The latest research we review here shows promise in contributing to the production of better dogs and, consequently, more help for people.
狗与人类的特殊关系不仅使它们在我们的生活中无处不在，而且工作犬还专门为我们执行重要的功能，例如嗅探炸弹和为残疾人士推轮椅。为了提高工作犬的性能，了解其成功背后的认知技能至关重要。本综述详细介绍了犬类认知领域的最新研究工作，包括狗如何进化出社会认知技能，这些技能模仿甚至在某些情况下与我们最亲近的灵长类动物相媲美。我们回顾了这些发现如何为希望帮助加强工作犬计划的新研究奠定基础。这包括已经开始揭示服务工作最重要特征的发展和稳定性的工作。诸如此类的发现表明，有可能将我们所学到的知识转化为改善这些工作的繁殖、选择和培训。我们在这里回顾的最新研究显示出有望为生产更好的狗做出贡献，从而为人们提供更多帮助。
