Free-ranging dogs match a human’s preference in a foraging task

Abstract

Social learning is a mechanism used by many species to efficiently gain information about their environment. Although many animals live in an environment where members of other species are present, little is known about inter-specific social learning. Domesticated and urbanized species provide the opportunity to investigate whether non-human animals can learn from heterospecifics such as humans, who are integral parts of their social landscape. Although domestic dogs Canis familiaris have been intensively researched for their ability to learn from humans, most studies have focused on dogs living as pets. However, free-ranging dogs represent the majority of the world’s dog population, they live alongside humans, scavenge on human refuse, and are subjected to natural and sexual selection. Thus, free-ranging dogs with extensive exposure to humans and their artifacts provide the opportunity to investigate inter-specific social learning in a naturalistic setting, where learning from humans might be a benefit for them. Here we tested individual free-ranging dogs in a between-subject design: dogs in the control group could spontaneously choose between two novel and differently patterned food-delivering boxes. In the experimental group, instead, dogs could first observe an unfamiliar human approaching and eating from one of the two boxes. We provide the first evidence that free-ranging dogs match the choice of an unfamiliar human. These results show that at least simple forms of inter-specific social learning might be involved in dogs’ success in living alongside humans in a complex urbanized environment.

Does novelty influence the foraging decisions of a scavenger?

“…Unlike pets, free-ranging dogs are primarily under natural and sexual selection pressures ( Range & Marshall-Pescini, 2022 ); thus, acquiring information about their surroundings is key to survival. Several recent studies have provided evidence that free-ranging dogs’ socio-cognitive abilities, from understanding human cues, attentional states and facial expressions to forming trust with and learning socially from humans, have made them successful in human-dominated environments ( Bhattacharjee et al, 2017b ; Bhattacharjee et al, 2017c ; Bhattacharjee et al, 2019 ; Bhattacharjee, Sau & Bhadra, 2018 ; Bhattacharjee, Sau & Bhadra, 2020 ; Brubaker et al, 2019 ; Bhattacharjee & Bhadra, 2020 ; Bhattacharjee & Bhadra, 2022 ; Lazzaroni et al, 2023 ; Cimarelli et al, 2023 ). However, in contrast to socio-cognitive skills, little is known about individual traits, such as exploratory behaviour and their contribution to free-ranging dogs’ success in human-dominated environments.…”

Does novelty influence foraging decision of a scavenger?

“…Several studies highlight free-ranging dogs’ socio-cognitive abilities, potentially guiding their decision-making processes and making them successful in human-dominated environments. Similar to other ‘urban adapters’ or ‘urban exploiters’ (McKinney, 2006), these dogs maintain a wary distance from humans but can build trust with or learn socially from unfamiliar humans (Bhattacharjee et al, 2017d; Cimarelli et al, 2023). Moreover, their abilities to understand human communicative intents, including gestures, attentional states and facial expressions, have recently been evidenced by empirical studies (Bhattacharjee et al, 2019; Brubaker et al, 2019; Bhattacharjee & Bhadra, 2022; Lazzaroni et al, 2023).…”

“…Moreover, their abilities to understand human communicative intents, including gestures, attentional states and facial expressions, have recently been evidenced by empirical studies (Bhattacharjee et al, 2019;Brubaker et al, 2019;Bhattacharjee & Bhadra, 2022;Lazzaroni et al, 2023). Free-ranging dogs also show a high degree of behavioural plasticity and engage with various objects provided by humans to perform tasks that lead to food rewards (Bhattacharjee et al, 2017c(Bhattacharjee et al, , 2019Lazzaroni et al, 2019;Cimarelli et al, 2023), often using judgment to choose the best available option (Bhattacharjee et al, 2017c(Bhattacharjee et al, , 2019). Yet, as scavengers, how non-social traits, such as neophobia and/or neophilia, shape free-ranging dogs' decision-making processes has rarely been investigated.…”