dogswagtheirtailsindifferentdirectionDogswag(摇摆)theirtailsindifferentdirectionsdependingonwhethertheyareexcitedandwantingtomoveforwardorthreatenedandthinkingofmovingback,astudyhasfound.ResearchersinItalyexamine

　　dogswagtheirtailsindifferentdirection

　　Dogswag(摇摆)theirtailsindifferentdirectionsdependingonwhethertheyareexcitedandwantingtomoveforwardorthreatenedandthinkingofmovingback,astudyhasfound.

　　ResearchersinItalyexaminedthetailwaggingbehaviourof30dogs,catchingtheirresponsestoarangeofstimuli(刺激物)withvideocamems.Toconductthestudytheychose15maledogsand15femaleonesagedbetweenoneandsixyears.ThedogswereallfamilypetswhoseownershadallowedthemtotakepartintheexperimentatBariUmversity.Thedogswereplacedinalargewoodenboxwithanopeningatthefronttoallowforthemtoviewvariousstimuli.Theyweretestedoneatatime.

　　TheresearchersledbyProfessorGiorgioVallortigaraoftheUniversityofTriestefoundthatwhenthedogswereshowntheirowners—apositiveexpenence—theirtailswaggedenergeticallytotherightside.Whentheywereshownanunfamiliarhumantheywaggedtotheright,butwithsomewhatlessenthusiasm.Theappearsofacatagaincausedaright-handsidewag,althoughwithlessintensityagain.Theappearanceofalargeunfamiliardog,similartoaGermanshepherd,changedthedirectionoftailwaggingtotheleft.Researcherssupposedthedogwasthinkingofmovingback.Whenthedogswerenotshownanystimulitheytendedtowagtheirtailstotheleft,suggestingtheypreferredcompany.Whilethechangesinthetailwaggingwerenoteasilynoticedwithouttheaidofvideo,itwasthoughtthatthefindingscouldhelppeoplejudgethemood(心情)ofdogs.Computerandvideosystems,forexample,couldbeusedbyprofessionaldogtrainerstodeterminethemoodofdogsthattheywererequiredtoapproach.