When to Pet or Not To Pet a Dog: Wag The Dog

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

Wag the Dog (http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=wag-the-dog&sc=rss)

The next time you come face to face with a dog wagging its tail, you can make a quick determination on whether to reach out and pet it or step back in deference: check the tail-wag bias. If the wagging tail leans to the dog’s right, you’re safe; if the tail leans to the dog’s left, don’t move.

This tail-wagging bias was documented in a 2007 article in the journal Current Biology by Italian neuroscientist Giorgio Vallortigara and his veterinarian colleagues at the University of Bari. In an experiment, 30 mixed-breed dogs were each placed in a cage equipped with cameras that measured the asymmetrical bias (left or right) of tail wagging while the pooches were exposed to four stimuli: their owner, an unfamiliar human, a cat and an unfamiliar dominant dog. Owners elicited a strong right bias in tail wagging, and unfamiliar humans and the cat triggered a slight right bias. But the unfamiliar dominant dog (a large Belgian Shepherd Malinois) elicited a strong left bias in tail wagging. Why?

[DoctorDoom]

And if there is no bias, the dogs are bored?

[Suzie]

And if there is no bias, the dogs are bored?
They are moderates and all the presidential candidates will line up to pet them.

[HomeschoolrsRUs]

They are moderates and all the presidential candidates will line up to pet them.

:lol:

[PrezLeefun]

Nope..... dogs bite liars. No politicans allowed.

[The_Elucidator]

Nope..... dogs bite liars.

I was bit three different times when I was a meter reader for an electric company, and I never once lied to the dogs that bit me...

[DoctorDoom]

Dog logic: "Invaders in my territory NEED to be bitten!"

[Kathy30]

When I closed my law office and became a dog groomer one of my chief reasons was that dog's do not lie. Unlike those with whom I formerly did business, who lied all the time, constantly, knowing I was being lied to, but not knowing the truth at all dogs were refreshing. If a dog doesn't like you, he or she will bite you. They won't lie about it. They won't lick your hand and face, then bite you. They will simply bite you with or without any warnings. It is possible to approach a dog who has made up its mind to bite you and change it. Again, they won't lie and appear to have changed their mind from biting to not biting, and sandbag you. When a dog has decided that you are not someone to bite, they won't.

Cats on the other hand are congenital liars. They are not as bad as human beings, but close. A cat will lie about any number of things. It will lie that it won't scratch you by purring and rubbing its head against your hand only to flash talons on the unsuspecting. Then laugh about it. Cats lie about being neglected to the point of starving to death. It is not unknown to have a 30 pounder pitifully wailing that it has not eaten in several days rather than several minutes.

The one thing a cat will never lie about out is whether or not you are an acceptable servant. Once a cat has judged a human as unworthy, the cat simply leaves.