Dogs are neither loyal nor grateful

Dogs have long been known to represent a highly privileged way of life on this planet. Close to man, cattle, pigs, and chickens always pay their heads, whether it lasts long or long. Dreras and wild pigs are even sought by the man in the territories where they live and are killed by being shot from behind. But dogs keep their paws open.

Dogs may have devoted several thousand years to the servile vision they have learned to throw, which causes many to melt. People take care of devoted parasites by keeping them with food and living, even removing their waste in plastic bags. 1.4 billion euros are paid to the Germans each year for dog food. Very few were working to make bread, such as hunting guides or guards.

But that is not enough, says a team of researchers gathered around biologist Jim McGatric, who studies the ways of bringing to the Institute of Ethnology, Konrad Laurenz, Vienna.

In the latest issue of the popular scientific magazine Plos One, it describes in detail 33 pages for new, statistically verified experiments whose results are summed up in only one sentence: dogs are ungrateful.

This is the conclusion reached by the experiment, during which participants press a food distributor's button to give dogs food. Animals are then given an opportunity to express their gratitude by doing the same.

But what happens? None of the 20 dogs from the Border Collies, the Berner mountain dogs, or Golden Retrever, played the paw in the laboratory. To get yes, to give no. Which doesn't even change when between two trials of animal and human is given the possibility of interaction: Dogs just accept petting.

No, the dog's not man's best friend, he just pretends. It costs him nothing to see with love and humility. But if he has to fight for something more expensive, then loving - kindness ends. / DW