Cooperative Communication with Humans Evolved to Emerge Early in Domestic Dogs

Functionally analogous body- and animacy-responsive areas in the dog (Canis familiaris) and human occipito-temporal lobe

“…This is in line with previous behavioural studies suggesting, for example, no significant difference in the perception of human or dog emotional facial [35], whole-body cues [78], or images of social interactions [68]. Further, two studies demonstrated that dogs, already as puppies, follow human gestural-communication and show an interest in human faces [76], which has not been observed in wolf puppies [79]. Additionally, half of the variation in these socio-cognitive skills could be accounted for by genetic factors, suggesting that dogs’ attention to humans might have been enhanced during domestication [75 for review of both studies].…”

Domestic dogs: Born human whisperers

“…Wherever there are humans, there are dogs 2 . Over the past few decades, behavioural scientists have shed light on the unique relationship between dogs and humans and discovered that dogs have evolved to exhibit socio-cognitive abilities that are not found in other species 3 , including their closest living relatives, the wolves, as a new study by Salomons et al 4 , reported in this issue of Current Biology, confirms. Dogs' ability to read communicative human gestures such as pointing and their general motivation to engage with humans develop early and indeed a second new study reported in this issue of Current Biology by Bray et al 5 suggests that dogs are born to be 'human whisperers'.…”

“…Salomons et al 4 very elegantly addressed the uniqueness of dogs' skills. They compared a large sample of retriever puppies and wolf puppies in a series of behavioural and cognitive tests.…”

“…Whatever historical event might have led to the creation of man's best friend's ability to understand us, the papers by Bray et al 5 and Salomons et al 4 open new avenues for research. Dogs have already proved to be a powerful model when it comes to exploring the genetic basis of diseases.…”

“…Dogs have already proved to be a powerful model when it comes to exploring the genetic basis of diseases. The work of Bray et al 5 and Salomons et al 4 indicates that dogs prove a powerful model for studying the genetic underpinnings and evolutionary roots of social behaviour and cognition. Most flowering plants rely on animal vectors to transfer pollen to potential mates 1 .…”