July 20, 2025, 6:03 am | Read time: 5 minutes
Can dogs consciously communicate with us–or even deliberately deceive us? A new study from the University of Zurich shows: Our four-legged friends adjust their behavior in surprisingly targeted ways. They reveal hidden treats especially when humans are unaware–and even intentionally mislead less cooperative people.
When we fib, we usually do so verbally, by making up a story. Dogs, on the other hand, manipulate and deceive through body language. Researchers at the University of Zurich wanted to know if dogs consciously adjust their so-called “showing behavior”–the act of switching their gaze between a human and an interesting object.
In the study published in the journal “Frontiers in Psychology,” it was revealed: Dogs apparently distinguish precisely how humans behave–whether they are helpful or selfish–and react accordingly. This means: Dogs not only communicate spontaneously but also make deliberate decisions about how to behave toward a fellow dog or human. This insight offers exciting perspectives for both science and our daily lives with dogs. 1
Do Dogs Think Tactically–or Act Instinctively?
Targeted communication is deeply human–we convey information with clear intent. Some primates, like chimpanzees, do this too. But dogs? It was previously assumed that their indications of things (such as through gaze shifts) were more reflexive or conditioned.
But the researchers wanted to know more: Do dogs actually try to actively influence human behavior, and can they even deliberately deceive us? Two cleverly designed experiments aimed to determine whether dogs behave based on what their counterpart knows or how they have previously behaved.
Two Tests, One Intriguing Question: What Does My Dog Really Think?
A total of 44 family dogs participated in two different experiments. In the first test (21 dogs), it was examined whether dogs behave differently depending on whether their owner was present when a treat was hidden. The dog was then supposed to indicate the location of the food through gaze or behavior.
In the second test (23 dogs), two strangers were the focus: One was friendly and gave the dog the food, the other took it for themselves. In prior training, the dogs learned who was who. It was then observed whether they “pointed” differently depending on the person–or even deliberately misled them. All tests were documented on video and evaluated based on clearly defined behavioral categories.
Who Helps Me–and Who Do I Leave Hanging?
The results were astonishing. In the first experiment, dogs pointed to the correct spot much more often when their human was not present during the hiding–they apparently knew when help was needed. They also looked at their humans more intensely–a sign of increased communication attempts.
Even more intriguing was the second experiment: The dogs clearly distinguished between the two strangers. When the helpful person was present, they reliably indicated the food location. However, when the “selfish” person was in front of them, they gave false hints much more often–sometimes even deliberately pointing to an empty box. This behavior suggests that the dogs consciously deceived the humans in the experiment. And: The dogs’ activity was the same in both conditions, making emotional causes like excitement or frustration unlikely.
Dogs with Ulterior Motives?
The study impressively demonstrates: Dogs not only show something–they apparently also consider whom they show it to. Particularly noteworthy is the ability for deliberate deception. Such behavior has so far been documented almost exclusively in primates. Dogs seem to “think” and “deceive” more than many believe. They not only take our behavior into account but possibly also our intentions–a hint at so-called intentional communication.
For dog owners, this means: Our four-legged friends may understand more about us than we think. And they use this knowledge to navigate their daily lives with us a bit more effectively.
Results Not Applicable to All Dogs
The study is convincing in its methodology: clearly separated test conditions, objective evaluation, and good comparability. However, there are limits. The participating dogs all lived in private households–whether the results also apply to other dogs or specific breeds remains open. The influence of age and gender was also not recorded.
And: Whether dogs actually recognize a human’s “state of mind”–that is, whether they know if someone knows something or not–remains open. However, the conscious misleading suggests that it is more than mere conditioned behavior. Emotional factors like frustration or reward expectation were carefully excluded in the study.
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The study provides fascinating insights into how complex dog behavior really is. Dogs not only communicate–they decide how to communicate with us. They not only reveal hidden treats but also sometimes deliberately lead us astray. This indicates impressive cognitive flexibility–and perhaps even an initial understanding of others’ thinking.
For our daily lives with our dogs, this means: Those who pay close attention may discover that their four-legged friend “thinks along” more than one might suspect. And that is precisely what makes the relationship between humans and dogs so special.