Two assays of working memory in companion dogs: The holeboard and disappearing object tasks

Variation in executive function and age-related cognitive decline may underlie the emergence of behaviour welfare problems dogs. A better understanding such links, dog cognition general, will be facilitated by development tasks that can readily implemented, including with publicly-owned dogs are available for relatively short testing periods. Working memory is a key component often measured using tests as delayed-non-match-to-sample or radial-arm maze which require extensive training testing. Here we successfully adapt Holeboard Task to measure working reference dogs, show another test memory, Disappearing Object Task, performed single day. (p = 0.002) < 0.001) scores 16-hole (four holes baited) increased across sessions, falling steeply expected when configuration baited buckets changed. In were able locate an object displaced behind one four visual barriers, their ability do this fell retention interval (0 s, 30 60 120 240 s) between hiding locating 0.001). measures not correlated, possibly due differences motivational context exact learning demands tasks. summary adapted use implemented The latter task particularly useful studies owned public where prolonged access infeasible, three-day faster implement than other commonly used laboratory-based