DROP THE TREAT - 5 minutes Does your dog understand how the world works?
This is another view-of-the-world test. It looks at your dog's understanding of how objects, especially horizontal objects, relate to each other. Animals that move about more in 3 dimensions should do better at this than those that move only on the ground.
What do I need?
A kitchen or dining table, or for dogs larger than a Labrador, a tea tray
A cushion
A pet treat or toy
The walkthrough below describes the stages of the test:
Step 1: Place your dog in front of the table, or hold the tray, so that the surface is above your dog's eye level.
Step 2: Place a cushion or folded towel on the table or tray.
Step 3: Stand on the opposite side of the table or tray to your dog. Hold the treat above the table or tray, and when your dog is watching it, drop it onto the cushion. Step 4: How does your dog react?
Results:
A - Dog looks at the table top or tray
B - Dog looks at the floor, then back up at the table or tray
C - Dog looks on the floor for the treat
If option A - Your dog understands the way that horizontal objects relate to each other. This may not seem like much, but many animals have difficulty with this test. Pets that move about more in 3 dimensions should do better at this than those that move only on the ground.
If option B - Your dog was surprised that the treat didn't hit the floor, but quickly worked out where it was likely to be. Many animals have trouble with this test. Pets that move about more in 3 dimensions should do better at this than those that move only on the ground.
If option C - Your dog expected the treat to fall to the floor. This shows that your dog hasn't grasped the way in which horizontal objects relate to the other objects in their world. Pets that move about more in 3 dimensions should do better at this than those that move only on the ground.
