Italian researchers have determined that dogs are capable of showing empathy towards their breathren.
Since the dawn of time, dogs are considered man’s best friend. Apart from being such loyal chums, the dogs can even show a high degree of empathy towards their master and towards his brethren. Dogs can show affinity like humans and apes, thus concluded an Italian study, focused on how dogs are capable of communicating between each other.
The study has been conducted by several researchers from the University of Pisa. According to their assessment of the situation, dogs, ranging from common house pets to other species of canines, are actually capable of displaying empathy towards other members of his species through mimicry.
Traditionally, the term of mimicry was coined to designate a species ability to blend into the environment. But, in this case, the term means the ability to reproduce the behavior of another species.
According to their report, dogs, like humans and apes, have the ability to mimic the behavior of another member from the same species, thus establishing an efficient means of communication. The same study uses this new theory in order to explain how two or more dogs are capable of bonding.
In order to see how this connection is established, the Italian scientists studied over 50 differents dog breeds. In all cases, the scientists have been able to isolate and identify certain cues or instances in how different breeds communicate with each other.
Further studies into dog behavior have established that our fellow canines have a high degree of empathy. This fact leads to a far better communication between them.
And this statement should not come as a surprise when every day we are assaulted by live examples of this type of behavior. For example, recall what happens when dogs, who know each other for a time, react when they are in each other’s company.
Another example of the mimicry mechanism would be how dogs belonging to the same owner react when one of them is in danger. Or, if we dare give another example, how does dog-chums react, for example, when the owner berates the other one.
Dogs can show affinity like humans and apes, and it would seem that this type of behavior can also be found outside its species, although these are rare instances. Over the years, there have been numerous examples of here K-9s who would jump into the heart of a house fire in order to save a cat or another animal.
Whatever the case maybe, it would seem that our obedient bow-wow chum could show us a thing or two about empathy.
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