Recent studies indicate that a dog’s response to your preferred TV show can reveal much about your personality.

In a recent Nature study, researchers found that enthusiastic dogs tend to interpret what they see on TV as reality, whereas anxious dogs are more inclined to react to non-animal elements, like humans and vehicles.

According to Lane Montgomery, a graduate student from Auburn University who spearheaded the research, there was a single consensus among all dogs regarding one topic.

“Overall, dogs generally seem to enjoy television, particularly when it features other dogs and animals,” Montgomery said to BBC Science Focus.

However, a note of caution before curating dog video playlists for your beloved pet: nearly half of the 453 dogs analyzed reacted every time their on-screen counterparts barked or howled.

Interestingly, breed and gender did not appear to influence their reactions, with older dogs exhibiting similar caution to younger puppies.

Dogs have been enjoying television alongside humans for nearly a century. Today, there are even specialized channels and programs designed to enhance dogs’ lives while their owners are engaged elsewhere.

Despite this, there has been little scientific inquiry into how dogs respond to visual stimuli.

To fill this gap, Montgomery encouraged dog owners to complete a survey that documented their pets’ responses to various dogs, animals, humans, inanimate objects, and environmental effects appearing on TV.

Montgomery posits that more impulsive dogs are likely to chase objects appearing on the TV screen or look behind the TV to track their movement, indicating they perceive the visuals as real.

Conversely, skittish dogs were more prone to react when they saw people on TV or heard doorbells.

This research focuses solely on interactions with the most common individuals, rather than assessing whether these interactions are positive or negative.

Nevertheless, the insights gathered could aid owners in targeting training to eliminate undesirable behaviors and better identify which shows might be stressing their pets.

“The primary aim of this study was to enhance our understanding of how dogs react to various TV programs, thereby increasing the effectiveness of television as a tool for dog enrichment,” Montgomery stated. “Understanding which types of shows captivate dogs can help dog TV programs improve their content according to what dogs are likely to enjoy.”

About our experts

Lane Montgomery is a doctoral candidate in the Cognitive and Behavioral Sciences Program at Auburn University, USA. Her research concentrates on canine behavior and cognition to enhance the welfare of companion dogs and the efficiency of working dogs.

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