This Labrador can see into your soul (Pictures: Getty)

Be nice to your pets because they’ll be judging you on their own sense of morality.

Dogs and monkeys prefer to spend time with people who do good things and help people, said university researchers.

After babies as young as one were shown to have an ‘inate morality’ that allows them to judge adults, James Anderson of Kyoto University wondered if dogs were the same.

The comparative psychologist tested dogs and monkeys to see if they have a set of ‘morals’.

In the study, dogs watched their owners struggling to open a container while an actor either helped, acted passively, or refused to lend them a hand.

The actors would then offer the dog a treat with the study finding the pets were more likely to choose the one who did nothing than those who had refused.

Anderson told the New Scientist: ‘If somebody is behaving antisocially, they probably end up with some sort of emotional reaction to it.

Dog’s long relationship with humans might have made them more sensitive to our feelings.

Similarly, monkeys understood fairness and helpfulness. They would shun actors who refused to help other people with basic tasks when they offered treats.

In 2011 at the same university dogs were shown to prefer people who gave food to beggars over those who refused.

Frans de Waal of Emory University said wanting to do good is affected by knowing you’re being watched.

‘Human morality is very much based on reputation building, because why would you try to be good if no one cares?’ he said.

‘I think that in humans there may be this basic sensitivity towards antisocial behaviour in others. Then through growing up, inculturation and teaching, it develops into a full-blown sense of morality.’

Now we know that pet dogs definitely do care.

Source:
courtesy of METRO

by Charles White

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