Dogs Share Treats With Their Friends, Reveal Prosocial Behavior In New Study

Dog lovers are having their suspicions confirmed with new research showing that dogs are more empathetic and even smarter than most give them credit for. They are closer to primates in that aspect, according to Life with Dogs. The study reveals that dogs will give food and treats to their dog friends without receiving anything in return.

Prosocial behavior is the act of helping another animal without benefiting from it in any way, and until recently, that behavior has only been documented scientifically in primates.

Dogs in the study have shown their true colors, with their generosity to their friends, when it comes to food and even highly coveted treats.

"Dogs truly behave prosocially toward other dogs," explained lead researcher Friederike Range, an animal behavior expert at the Messerli Research Institute in Vienna, in the new study. "That had never been experimentally demonstrated before. What we also found was that the degree of familiarity among the dogs further influenced this behavior."

The controlled study had researchers experimenting with dogs in cages and able to pull on a lever to "treat" their neighbor dog friend a tray with food. The dogs learned the difference between pulling the lever that gave their friend food and the one that gave them an empty tray, as well as treats for themselves.

"What we also found was that the degree of familiarity among the dogs further influenced this behavior," added Range, according to The Week. "Prosocial behavior was exhibited less frequently toward unfamiliar dogs than toward familiar ones."

The study was published in the Dec. 16 issue of the journal Science Daily.