I never could understand the right wag, left wag distinction. They always seem to sweep both right and left, so I have trouble telling what kind of wag it is.
I know what you're saying and imagine that the jury might still be out on this hypothesis until proven. The study that raised this used a mere 43 dogs. Unless you've got perfect eye line down the dog it's pretty tricky to gauge - but in lab (pun intended) conditions, it's a whole lot easier - as in the videos I've seen, there is a sweep - but with a little more emphasis on one side than the other.
I'm guessing such studies, if examined now, with the abilities of AI increasing at such a rate, we've got an even better chance of unlocking the language of our furry friends!
Surely it's down to feedback. Most things work with feedback.
If micro movements (a slight tail wag) produce a desired effect, that perceived movement is increased to test if the desired effect increases too.
I saw this happen today when I approached a spaniel sticking it's body out of a van window - when I smiled, they tail began wagging to it's right.
I'm down for a research grant to continue such interactions - in fact, I'd gladly pay to do it.
I never could understand the right wag, left wag distinction. They always seem to sweep both right and left, so I have trouble telling what kind of wag it is.
I know what you're saying and imagine that the jury might still be out on this hypothesis until proven. The study that raised this used a mere 43 dogs. Unless you've got perfect eye line down the dog it's pretty tricky to gauge - but in lab (pun intended) conditions, it's a whole lot easier - as in the videos I've seen, there is a sweep - but with a little more emphasis on one side than the other.
I'm guessing such studies, if examined now, with the abilities of AI increasing at such a rate, we've got an even better chance of unlocking the language of our furry friends!
The study mentioned can be read, for free, at: https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(13)01143-3
Thanks. I will look at the study now.
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I think it is!
It's really difficult to perceive outside of perfect conditions though isn't it...
In the real world, the park, it's even more difficult - plus we want to believe that all the dogs we meet love us!
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