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Popperian Dogs-Practical Rationality and Inferential Reasoning in Dogs
Ludwig Huber1,2,3
1Cognition and Applied Ethology, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria.
Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI
|March 28, 2026
Summary
Domesticated dogs demonstrate advanced cognitive abilities, acting as "Popperian animals." They can make inferences through exclusion, rational imitation, and perspective-taking, showcasing sophisticated inferential thinking.
Area of Science:
- Cognitive Ethology
- Animal Cognition
- Canine Behavior
Background:
- Dogs exhibit complex behaviors suggesting intelligence.
- Previous research indicates dogs can make inferences.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review studies demonstrating dogs' capacity for inferential thinking.
- To explore dogs' abilities in exclusion, rational imitation, and perspective-taking.
- To assess if dogs qualify as 'Popperian animals'.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing scientific literature on canine cognition.
- Analysis of studies involving exclusion tasks, selective imitation, and perspective-taking in dogs.
- Examination of evidence for dogs inferring intentions, knowledge, and beliefs.
Main Results:
- Dogs can make inferences by exclusion using visual and associative cues.
- Dogs demonstrate rational imitation, inferring efficiency, constraints, and goals.
- Dogs exhibit perspective-taking, inferring human intentions and mental states.
Conclusions:
- Domesticated dogs possess inferential thinking and perspective-taking skills.
- Evidence supports classifying dogs as 'Popperian animals' capable of mental "trial and error".
- Further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms of canine mind-reading.
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