In a recent study, dogs were able to distinguish between different pictures on a computer screen.

Four dogs strutted their stuff recently by using touch-screen computers to classify color photographs for a study of animal cognition.

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In order to test whether dogs can visually categorize pictures, and transfer their knowledge to new situations, four dogs were shown landscape and dog photographs, and expected to make a selection on a computer touch-screen.

In the training phase the dogs were shown a landscape photo and dog photo simultaneously on a computer screen. When they nose-selected the dog, they received a treat.

To test whether the canines could transfer the learned info to a new situation, the researchers flashed onto the screens a different set of dog-landscape photographs. Sure enough, the four-legged subjects chose the dog photographs.

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The results indicate, according to the authors, the dogs were able to form a concept of a “dog.” Whether the dogs recognized the pup pictures as actual dogs, however, is an unknown.

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