Dissociation of Mechanisms Involved in Dogs’ Oriented Displacements

Abstract

Factors determining spatial choice were studied in experiments conducted outdoors. Six dogs (Breton spaniel) had to choose between two paths leading to a baited feeding bowl (goal). Transparent or opaque screens were interposed between the starting-point and the goal; their arrangement was devised so as to control the length and the angular deviation or divergence of the paths. The results show that when the goal was visible (transparent screens) dogs preferred the less divergent path indicating that angular deviation was the most relevant variable. When the goal was hidden (opaque screen), they preferred the shorter path and did not take into account the angular deviation. These results suggest that two classes of mechanism underlie the selection of path in these spatial situations.