The researchers also tested dogs to see if they were more likely to steal the treats when someone was present and not looking at them, and found that this was the case. Different levels of distraction were tested, with the person's eyes shut, or the person using a computer, for example. The dogs used different strategies according to how distracted the person appeared to be. They were more likely to use an indirect approach, rather than going directly to the treat, if the person appeared to be looking at the dog, and less likely to if the person was playing on a computer. Dogs can work out what humans are able to see, and may be able to put together their past experiences to solve new problems.
Dog behaviour appears more complex than simply automatic responses that are learnt.
He will receive additional payments for his legal costs and loss of earnings. The incident occurred in Oct 1998, when the dog bit the postman, who was delivering mail, in the groin. The postman is worried about the effect of the bite on his ability to have children, though he has been told that this should be unaffected. Researcher, Marsha Morgan, studied one family with a dog, who had used the insecticide diazinon to treat their garden. Samples were taken both from the dog, and from the carpet and air within the home.