Wolves have an understanding of cause and effect, and pet dogs - do not. But wolves are just as good at following the commands of men as dogs. Perhaps this cognitive difference has to do with the process of domestication, say scientists from the Center for Science for wolves in Vienna.
There are several standardized method for assessing intelligence in animals and one of the most common is an understanding of cause and effect. Crows, parrots and even some cats well understood phenomena through these concepts. For the study, the researchers tested 14 dogs that lived in group and 12 domesticated wolf. They are also conducted tests on 12 other dogs that were living as pets.
"Our study is unique in that not only compares dogs and wolves who live under identical conditions have the same story mode, but compare dogs that live in groups with dogs - pets."
"Domestication obviously had an effect on the ability to understand dogs," the researchers concluded the team. Wolves have done much better on intelligence tests that measured their level of proficiency in both concepts.
source: Science Alert