News, Studies show dogs have sense of fairness. (food, home, keep)

[JD59]

WASHINGTON – No fair! What parent hasn't heard that from a child who thinks another youngster got more of something? Well, it turns out dogs can react the same way. Ask them to do a trick and they'll give it a try. For a reward, sausage say, they'll happily keep at it. But if one dog gets no reward, and then sees another get sausage for doing the same trick, just try to get the first one to do it again.

Studies show dogs have sense of fairness - Yahoo! News (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081208/ap_on_sc/sci_no_fair;_ylt=AuM60OzGD8uSAV5qrYT8wLgPLBIF - broken link)

[riveree]

I think that's true. Of course, dogs are also all too willing to tip the scale and let their instinct of domination take over, but I think dogs who are part of the same "pack" can exhibit fairness .

[blossom4792]

I currently have 3 dogs (one is a "foster") and they definitely have an expectation of fairness - at least where food is concerned. They have a definite "order" in which they expect to be fed, and they understand that if they wait their turn, they will receive their food or treat. There are times when one is on a different schedule for heartworm medications and the others get quite flustered - they truly have a belief in the innate fairness in this home - it's quite precious, really. I just feel indebted to honor this - even in perception, if there is a specific reason for one to receive something and not the others.