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Cross-species referential signalling events in domestic dogs (Canis familiaris)

Worsley, HK; O'Hara, SJ

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Authors

HK Worsley



Abstract

Referential gestures are used by a signaller to draw a recipient’s attention to a specific object, individual or event in the environment. These gestures have received much research attention in relation to human and non-human primates with great apes being shown to possess impressive gestural repertoires. Domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) meanwhile provide an ideal non-primate candidate for investigating referential signalling due to their unique relationship with humans that centres on non-verbal communication with frequent interaction. Here we observed 37 pet dogs in their own homes. Owners recorded 242 videos containing 47 potential referential gesture events. We analysed those recordings to reveal evidence of 19 referential gestures performed by domestic dogs during everyday communicative bouts with humans, showing that the gestures conform to the five features of referential signalling. Our study exposes impressive gesturing abilities in a non-primate mammal; especially when viewed in the context of the cross-species rather than intraspecific communication.

Citation

Worsley, H., & O'Hara, S. (2018). Cross-species referential signalling events in domestic dogs (Canis familiaris). Animal Cognition, 21(4), 457-465. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-018-1181-3

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Apr 18, 2018
Online Publication Date Apr 30, 2018
Publication Date Apr 30, 2018
Deposit Date May 11, 2018
Publicly Available Date May 11, 2018
Journal Animal Cognition
Print ISSN 1435-9448
Electronic ISSN 1435-9456
Publisher Springer Verlag
Volume 21
Issue 4
Pages 457-465
DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-018-1181-3
Publisher URL https://rdcu.be/M3yp
Related Public URLs https://link.springer.com/journal/10071
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-018-1181-3

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