Canine Pessimism May Lead to Pets' Bad Behavior, Study Finds
This article is for subscribers only.
As with people, some dogs always expect the worst, according to research suggesting that pessimistic pups are also more likely to have behavior problems.
The study of 24 dogs was reported today in the journal Current Biology. The animals were trained to expect an empty food bowl at one position in a room, and one with food at another. When the vittles were placed elsewhere, some dogs ran to the bowls and others ignored them, the researchers said.