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Updated: Feb 2, 2026

Training Dogs for Awake, Unrestrained Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Published on: October 13, 2019
Training improves inhibitory control in water rescue dogs
Gabriela Barrera1, Alessandra Alterisio2, Anna Scandurra2
1Canid Behavior Research Group (ICOC), Institute of Veterinary Sciences of the Litoral (ICIVET Litoral), UNL-CONICET, Santa Fe, Argentina.
Highly trained dogs, like water rescue dogs, demonstrate superior inhibitory control compared to pet dogs. This suggests that training experiences during a dog's development significantly enhance their ability to resist impulsive behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive ethology
- Animal behavior
- Canine cognition
Background:
- Inhibitory control is crucial for managing impulsive responses in various situations.
- Domestication and early life experiences influence inhibitory control in dogs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare inhibitory control between highly trained dogs (water rescue dogs) and pet dogs.
- To investigate the role of ontogenetic factors, specifically training, in canine inhibitory control.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the A-not-B task to assess inhibitory control.
- Animals were required to inhibit a previously reinforced response.
Main Results:
- Highly trained dogs made significantly fewer errors in the A-not-B task than pet dogs.
- This indicates superior inhibitory control in the trained group.
Conclusions:
- Training experience is a key factor in the development of inhibitory control in dogs.
- Inhibitory control appears to be a flexible cognitive ability shaped by ontogeny.
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