A Comparative Study of Dogs and Goats with Limited Human Socialization in the Impossible Task Paradigm

The study aimed to explore how limited human socialization affects the socio-cognitive abilities and interactions with unfamiliar individuals of a selected group domesticated dogs goats. These animals were raised kept under conditions characterized by socialization, their behavior was assessed using “impossible task” paradigm. found that dogs, history cooperative companionship, exhibited more frequent social engagement experimenters in experimental setting than goats, traditionally for utilitarian purposes. However, differences interaction duration latency not significant, highlighting complexity these interactions. results suggest domestication behavioral ecology play significant roles shaping animals’ willingness engage humans. this acknowledges limitations, such as specific population studied, calls further research larger diverse samples generalize findings. Understanding interplay between history, ecology, could provide insights into complex factors influencing animal–human cognitive behaviors, implications animal welfare human–animal relationships.