I had an interesting discussion with a client the other day.

She was recounting how she was diligently working on the homework I had shared the previous week (as all good students do), and got this sense that her lovely 4 year old Singapore Special was working with her on perfecting a Place cue almost as if she was “eager to please”. I asked her to explain the observations she had that led her to this impression and here are snippets of what she shared:

“She was just so attentive, looking at me the whole time”
“She was so quick to respond”
“She wanted to keep working, even during our breaks!”

This led me to wonder – are dogs really these thoughtful, altruistic creatures that care about us and our happiness as their companions?

While the dog lover in me wants to agree with the above, having read about Animal Behavior, I know the simple answer is no (or at best it’s a no, but it’s complicated). Yes, knowledge is a blessing and a curse.

Let me breakdown what I think was actually going on in the scenario described above.

First, the Fundamentals of Animal Behavior

All animals, including humans operate on two fundamental premises:

1. Increase outcomes that are positive for us (such as survival or happiness)
2. Decrease outcomes that are negative for us (such as death or pain)

Makes sense. As a human I want to do more of the things that make me happy – whether that is going to the beach on a sunny day, or staying in bed on a rainy day to read a book.

However, these two activities that make me happy also can lead to outcomes that I feel are negative – namely they keep me from doing my job, which in turn helps pay the bills so that I can continue to enjoy the lifestyle I have. In this case, taking countless beach and rainy days off work can lead to the negative outcome of not being able to pay my bills. So, I make a choice to enjoy beach day on pre-planned vacations instead – striking an acceptable balance for myself.

Cost benefit Calculations

Now when it comes to our furry friends, they too, are constantly making these cost-benefit calculations in their heads. That’s not to say they’re constantly thinking, for them it’s more instantaneous, especially if you’ve been consistent in teaching them which things lead to positive outcomes.

“Is getting that block of butter off the counter when no one is home going to be yummy?” – Answer is yes!

“Is going to my mat when she says “Place” lead to something good?” – Answer is yes!

“Does dropping that yummy chicken bone on the street lead to something even better?” – Answer is yes!

Complex, Higher Order Thinking & Altruism

While most animals are similar in the basics of the cost-benefit analysis they do, where humans might differ from most animals is in the fact that we have developed higher order thinking.

If you think about Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs – our basic needs for Food, Shelter, Safety are all taken care of (i.e. we’ve ensured we have positive outcomes on these fairly consistently), so we can busy ourselves with trying to increase positive outcomes (such as make ourselves happy) through higher order things like Self-Actualization or Esteem. Often these spaces lead us to realizing that being of service to other’s makes us happy, or being really good at a task or skill makes us happy and we pursue that in an effort to achieve Self-Growth.

This idea of doing things for others/strangers, at a cost to ourselves, is a uniquely human attribute. No other animal does this. Animals might display behaviors that seem altruistic, such as giving up food for others in their group (Vampire bats, Bonobos), or help other injured members at great risk to themselves (Elephants, Bees)– but ultimately these are behaviors that promote group survival or reciprocity.

Aside: It could be argued that even human altruism falls under this category – i.e. we do things for others because ultimately it might benefit the human race and our survival, or because we expect the favor to be returned, or even simply because these acts make us happy (thus serving our own desire for happiness) – but let’s put this philosophical debate to the side for now.

Our dogs on the other hand haven’t yet evolved to this high order of needs. Yes, I know what you’re thinking: Mitzy in her fabulous 2 bed condo on Marina Blvd, with her twice served gourmet raw diet, and monthly spa days at Pets Republic is hardly struggling to make ends meet, but you don’t see her actively working towards Self-Improvement or Self-Growth (unless you want to count the extra calories she sneaks in while the family is at the dinner table). Her brain and thought processes just aren’t wired that way. She’s content to live in the moment and optimize her outcomes as situations present themselves.

Dogs just don’t have the capacity to think about making others happy. They’re wired for survival as the ultimate positive outcome and will do what they know has worked in the past in order to achieve that. Realizing that we, as their guardians, are the givers of food, walks, play, and soothing massages, they work to ensure that access to these basic needs is continued. If that means they need to down-stay for 5 mins – you bet Mitzy is going to nail that down stay for an opportunity to earn some of that Siew Mai from BossiPaws.

What’s actually going on?

What I think was happening in the scenario my client described is that the positive outcomes for the dog and my client were mutually aligned in that moment, which made it seem like the dog was working to please my client, but in reality, the dog was actually working to please herself.

Dog’s Thought process
“Gee when she says “Place” and I zip over to the mat and plonk down really fast, she gives me a quick succession of yummy chicken treats and speaks to me in her special squeaky voice that I love – I’m going to do more of that!”

Human Though process:
“God, Lucky is really killing it in our session today – she’s so quick to respond and attentive. She’s so connected to me right now, it’s like she knows what I want and is doing it immediately. It makes my heart so happy and proud!”

Dogs positive outcomes: treats, squeaky voice, time with guardian

Human positive outcomes: attentive and responsive dog, multiple successful reps, time with dog

It was a win-win scenario in this case where both parties were able to get positive outcomes for themselves and the other at the same time.

A word of caution

Dogs will do what works for them.

While the above isn’t the most heart-warming way to think about our dogs, it is true. When we fall into the trap of thinking that dogs are like us and behave with intentions other than what works for them, we risk putting our dogs into situations they have no control over.

Think about it: If you believe that your dog is capable of behaving in ways to intentionally please you, it stands that they are also capable of behaving in ways to intentionally anger or annoy you.

We know that’s not true because annoying you is not in the interest of dog – it means you get angry, you might yell, or even punish them – all definitely things that increase negative outcomes for the dog and flouts the fundamental premise of animal behavior.

So then why is it that Bobo continues to bark non-stop at the cleaning lady even though she comes every single day?

“Surely he knows by now that she’s just going to clean up and leave. He must be doing it to annoy me. Let me shout at him again to tell him to quiet down.”

Bobo continues to repeat his barking that day and follows the same pattern day after day.

Why?

Because it’s in his interest to bark! The cleaning lady wields all manner of weird scary objects like the broom and the vacuum cleaner that are potentially life threatening (from Bobo’s perspective). He has to bark to let them know that he’s ready to attack if they come any closer. It’s a matter of survival (the ultimate positive outcome)!

No Bobo isn’t barking with the intent to annoy, just as much as Lucky isn’t responding to cues with the intent to please. They’re doing what they have learnt is necessary to survive, or at the very least, increase access to things that lead to survival (such as you and your treat pouch)!

So the next time you catch yourself thinking your dog is doing something on purpose to annoy you, or to make you happy – just know somewhere in their head they’ve done a calculation that has resulted in them doing that thing because it’s in their best interest. It’s result on you is simply collateral.

Interested in dog behavior? Check out more of my thoughts on commonly misunderstood concepts when it comes to dog training and all things behavior here!