Social skills and good functioning in society are premised on fairness.
Where there is injustice social cohesion collapses, and this is not exclusive to humans.
Animals have a very strong understanding of fairness, and all animal relationships fail when this tenet is neglected.
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Authoritative studies of animals show that inequality of treatment results in protest.
In one such study pairs of dogs were each asked to offer a paw.
In each pair, one of the test subjects was rewarded with better or more treats than the other.
Those who were unfairly handed lower value rewards began refusing to cooperate.
Research has also shown that dogs are experts at distinguishing fair and good partners from bad ones.
In another test, dogs were given the opportunity to choose between two humans after playing games of tug with each.
The dog always chose the handlers who allowed them to win the games over those who refused to let them win.
A third study involved dogs observing human interaction. The human subjects were paired and given food to eat.
Some of the pairs were shown sharing food while others pretended to be stealing from one another.
The dogs favoured the people who shared their food and avoided the ‘thieves’.
Such studies add insight into dogs’ thinking and thereby help us improve our relationships with them.
If a dog is not co-operating, question firstly whether he or she might perceive any ‘unfairness’ on your part.
Love, respect and trust are rewarded with co-operation.
Complex problems are often solved simply by empathising with the other being.
Susan Henderson© (Accredited Animal Behaviourist)
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