Hands On : Dog or Cat Behavior
Hands On : Dog or Cat Behavior

June 8 - 12

June 8 - 12

Learn about dog or cat behaviors with these simple experiments

After each test, ask yourself:

Was my pet born with this behavior or did they learn this behavior? Could they learn a different way to act?

Materials

Pet treats

A timer (a watch with a second hand or a timer on a phone or tablet works well)

A way to hide the pet treats (a screen, cardboard or big box you can hide the treats behind)

Bowls

Test 1: Can your pet count?

Some animals can count, and some can’t. Can your pet count?

Have your pet sit or ask someone to hold it while you show them 4 treats that you put into one bowl. Give them time to see each treat

Then show them 5 treats you put into a second bowl that looks exactly the same as the first bowl.

Place two bowls equal distance away from your pet and then let them go.

Which bowl did they choose first? What other ways could test to see if your pet can count?

Why is important that you used the same kind of bowls for this experiment?

Test 2: Can your pet do math?

Animals often look at something longer when they are confused. See if you can confuse your pet with numbers!

Show your dog one treat as you put it behind a box where they can’t see.

Make sure they are still watching as you add a second treat behind the box

Show your pets the treats behind the box, while timing how many seconds your pet looks at the treats before looking at something else. Don’t let them have the treats yet.

Do this again, but this time sneak in two extra treats without letting your pet see you add them, so that when you reveal the treats your pet will see four treats, instead of the two treats you let them see you add.

Did your pet look at the treats for the same amount of time each time?

Did your pet looked surprised when the extra treats appeared?

If your pet acted surprised or looked at the extra treats for a long time, then they might be able to do math! They expected two treats because they saw you put 1 treat and then another treat behind the screen. 1 +1 = 2, but they saw four treats behind the screen. That is surprising of you do the math!

Test 3: Does your pet prefer a certain color?

Gather 4 different bowls that are similar, but different colors (you could also use colored paper instead)

Place the bowls equal distance from each other so they make a square.

Have your pet sit while you add a single treat to each bowl.

Release your pet from the middle of the square and record which bowl your pet goes to first.

Repeat 3 more times

Did your pet go to a certain color more than others? If so, why do you think that is? If not, what do you think that might tell you about your pet?

Design your own experiment

Now it is your turn. Design a different behavior experiment for your pet. Does your pet have preferences? Does your pet respond to words that are similar to commands you use with it? Like mit, fit or pit instead of sit?

Which of these behaviors do you think your pet learned and which do you think they were born with?

Do you think all of these behaviors help your pet survive?

You are invited to share photos from your experiment. Click the button below:

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