Geniuses everywhere

I’ve recently seen two programs on TV, “Ape Genius” and “Dog Genius” that examine animal intelligence and compare it with human capabilities. 

Check out this National Geographic video about a dog and his peculiar habits.

An article in Animal Cognition details and experiment conducted at the University of Vienna to investigate the performance of different species

 The ability to reason by exclusion (which is defined as the selection of the correct alternative by logically excluding other potential alternatives; Call in Anim Cogn 9:393–403 2006) is well established in humans. Several studies have found it to be present in some nonhuman species as well, whereas it seems to be somewhat limited or even absent in others. As inconsistent methodology might have contributed to the revealed inter-species differences, we examined reasoning by exclusion in pigeons (n = 6), dogs (n = 6), students (n = 6), and children (n = 8) under almost equal experimental conditions. After being trained in a computer-controlled two-choice procedure to discriminate between four positive (S+) and four negative (S?) photographs, the subjects were tested with displays consisting of one S? and one of four novel stimuli (S?). One pigeon, half of the dogs and almost all humans preferred S? over S?, thereby choosing either by novelty, or by avoiding S? without acquiring any knowledge about S?, or by inferring positive class membership of S? by excluding S?. To decide among these strategies the subjects that showed a preference for S? were then tested with displays consisting of one of the S? and one of four novel stimuli (S??). Although the pigeon preferentially chose the S?? and by novelty, dogs and humans maintained their preference for S?, thereby showing evidence of reasoning by exclusion. Taken together, the results of the present study suggest that none of the pigeons, but half of the dogs and almost all humans inferred positive class membership of S? by logically excluding S?.

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Eviction notice for Spot

According to an article in the Chicago Sun- Times, some area shelters are seeing the number of animals being sent to shelters because of the owner’s financial turmoil is on the rise.  It seems that as the sub-prime mortgage situation worsens, people must sell their homes and may not be able to find apartments that allow animals. 

The article emphasizes foster care for animals as an alternative to shelters or abandoning the animals, which has happened in some cases.  This allows the owners to step back and regain some control of their finances while providing a home for their pets.

The Chicago Canine Rescue Foundation’s website discusses foster care for animals in Chicago and has some helpful information.

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