Anecdotal Evidence of Sense of Fairness?

 The results should be interesting.  I don't have a pack, so Pipers behavior  (as Chief Spoiled Dog) probably is not representative.  When I had three dogs, Rags was dominant  and didn't really seem concerned with "fair".  He got the soft spot to sleep, he got food first, and given a chance, also last.  He walked at heel on the inside next to me.  I think dogs work in a very pragmatic way-what is, just is. The others just accepted his rule.

 I'm a one dog household like Doug, but when there were three dogs and Tootsie got fed last (random order), she would look at me like: "No fair, why am I last? Look, I even sit pretty." Does that count?

Offhand the first thing that comes to mind is when my dogs correct each other.  Sometimes, if the correction is a bit harsh, the offending dog will actually snap back.  Not necessarily a bite snap, but sometimes whirl around and give a bark/air snap at the dog who corrected him/her as if to say, "HEY! Too much!".  Perhaps sometimes the initial correction is perceived as "unfair" (either unwarranted, or too strong?).  Just something I've observed.  Doesn't happen a lot, but I do give my dogs quite a bit of freedom as far as their interactions and corrections of each other.  FWIW I've never had a dog fight (and currently have two intact males).

Interestingly, I can think of several behaviors my dogs exhibit that others might label as "jealousy" or the dog perceiving unfairness that I'm pretty sure are not.

 First I think it is essential to know how they are assessing fairness:

Is it as Lies has commented a judgement of whether a correction from a dog is fair or as I am going to submit in that if there is something for everyone its all cool?

Bugsy is a single dog but has very frequent visitors.  I find it interesting that he will look frantically if someone arrives with treats but settle upon a realization there is one for each dog. He clearly looks to me and I can show him two treats and put them in separate hands at which point he will sit calmly. That is probably the clearest example that I can think of at this moment

With my two if one gets something the other one does also.  This has been this way since Hot came into our lives.  We have our routine and part of that is they go outside together in the morning.  One or the other will come in and wait at the door for who is lagging behind.  They know they get a morning treat when they get up and another when they come back in from their "walkabout" :)  Neither one will go to the special treat area unless or until the other one is back in the house.  As soon as that happens they both go to the area where I keep the treats and sit to wait their turn.   Same thing happens at night with their yogurt treats.   Rocky will wait for me in the kitchen, when my nightly routine includes get the yogurt treats he will go to the living room where Hot is usually waiting in his spot.  They know to take turns which in my opinion is an example of Fairness.

     My dogs all want a "turn" at things. If I take one dog out to work sheep, when I come back in the next dog is ready to go out the door.  If I don't respond to all their prompts (nudges, going to door while looking back at me, etc.), they will go sulk in the bedroom. When playing with the frisbees, the boys get more turns because they promptly bring the frisbees to my hand, the girls cry and try to push me to where they left their toy so I'll give them more turns to catch.

     When I think about it, 'fairness" is a hard concept to prove without words. A child can say "that's not fair!", but when a dog cuts their eyes at you, drops their head and tail, and leaves the room in disappoinment, how do you prove what that means? Since I live with them, I know their body "english", and to me it's obvious, but to a researcher? Bravo to you for participating in this study!!

That is a tough one as we all humanize our dogs with our own emotions.....

 Last night I gave the youngster a bully stick.  The older got a very small treat as her teeth can't handle a bully stick and she ends up dropping it after a few minutes...

 When she was done she got up, looked me in the eye, looked at Cannella eating her bully stick and walked to the pantry.   Her entire face and body was 'where is mine'?  The eyes, back and forth, to C., to me, to the pantry.....it was quite clear she didn't think it was 'fair' C. got a big old bully stick and she only got a little treat....

 I've read some of the studies about how researches test and theorize about fairness in dogs. However, sometimes i wonder if the dogs they use have been taught that when one dog gets something the other dog always gets something so they expect it and their behavior can be read as 'hey that's not fair, where's mine".

I would say that is how my dogs act. I have taught them "turns" and they expect it

Jewlieee

 I've read some of the studies about how researches test and theorize about fairness in dogs. However, sometimes i wonder if the dogs they use have been taught that when one dog gets something the other dog always gets something so they expect it and their behavior can be read as 'hey that's not fair, where's mine".

I would say that is how my dogs act. I have taught them "turns" and they expect it

I agree.  Without a better idea of what "fair" means in this study that Anne is doing with her dog, I'm left feeling that it's another case of humans trying to make dogs fit in human boxes.  Fair can mean different things in different situations.  Playing fair, fair sharing of resources, fair punishment and reward, etc. 

JackieG

Without a better idea of what "fair" means

My thoughts exactly. Fair does not mean equal - which I think is what  most of us are describing in our anecdotes.

JackieG

Jewlieee

 I've read some of the studies about how researches test and theorize about fairness in dogs. However, sometimes i wonder if the dogs they use have been taught that when one dog gets something the other dog always gets something so they expect it and their behavior can be read as 'hey that's not fair, where's mine".

I would say that is how my dogs act. I have taught them "turns" and they expect it

I agree.  Without a better idea of what "fair" means in this study that Anne is doing with her dog, I'm left feeling that it's another case of humans trying to make dogs fit in human boxes.  Fair can mean different things in different situations.  Playing fair, fair sharing of resources, fair punishment and reward, etc. 

Great comment. I also think that how dogs respond varies according to the expectations they have as the result of training.  Certainly, Sioux's response when the tester put no cookie in the dish twice in a row was pretty definite, but we'll see what happens when the next session occurs, since I don't know what will happen - although I think the test dog will be brought in, fed, and they'll watch Sioux's reaction when the other dog gets food and she doesn't.  Could be months or a year before they call us in for that, but I'll keep you updated;-)

spiritdogs

they'll watch Sioux's reaction when the other dog gets food and she doesn't.  Could be months or a year before they call us in for that, but I'll keep you updated;-)

I do believe it's a matter of training, what they're used to and what they like. Aside from Brianna, the rest of my crew are food hounds. Yet, when Jackson or Astra get an extra meal, the others don't line up for theirs. They've never gotten 'lunch' so they don't concern themselves. Yet they do line up for treats, I've always had them wait their turn. New toys must be bought in groups of 6 though, I get major stink eye if I don't have a new toy for each. I say 6 because inevitably one of them will snatch two toys and run off with them.

 They have invited us back already!!!!  Unfortunately, none of the appointment times work for me, so I will have to call them and try to schedule something that does work.