The Clever Hans Effect

Click here to read the complete article
130 – July, 2025

By Amy Fernandez

Maybe you caught the January 6 New York Times feature on canine intelligence titled, ‘Sit, Stay, Speak’. Basically, there is a new training device on the market promising to streamline communication with that alien species lurking under your kitchen table. Since its launch a few months ago, a flood of how-to books have added to this brand new approach to canine communication.

But is it really new technology? Researchers were determined to answer that question using an interactive floor mat covered with buttons labeled with dog friendly terms that say food, water, play, hello, want, yes, no, etc. when tapped with a paw. The underlying concept sprang from decades of research studies attempting to prove that dogs are capable of abstract thinking.

Let’s stipulate that canine intelligence is an ongoing source of amazement. However, it seems to have some well-defined limits. We all live with this understanding. There is no question that our dogs are acutely aware of our behavior in regards to their daily routine. They know a lot when it comes to stuff they want. “What time are you getting home?” “When is my walk?” And most crucially, “Time for dinner.” However, it’s hard to conclude that those predictable responses suggest that dogs can tell time. Moreover, demanding dinner immediately is unlikely to trigger a canine thought process about going to the store for dinner supplies.

Of course, science is an open-ended pursuit of knowledge. The fact that something hasn’t been proven to date doesn’t rule out the possibility. For instance, the concept of vital life forces, energy meridians, and interconnected body fluids has been an integral aspect of non-traditional medicine forever. It has also been dismissed by conventional medical communities. Then, quite recently western medicine discovered the existence of interstitium fluid, an integral, previously unknown piece of our anatomy which does exactly that. Still, healthy skepticism is a good thing.

Click here to read the complete article
130 – July, 2025

Short URL: https://caninechronicle.com/?p=332543

Posted by AnthonyA on Jul 12 2025. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.