By Marco Adda

As someone deeply invested in understanding the emotional lives of animals, I have been closely following the fascinating - and necessary! - work of researchers at the ELTE Department of Ethology in Budapest.

I keep endorsing their work first because they represent one of the most important canine science research centre globally, and also because after my collaboration with them for a few years (on the Bali dogs study) I can't keep my eyes away from their incredible work.

Now, their recent study sheds light on how dogs and pigs react to different human vocalizations, revealing some intriguing differences between these two species.

This study was published on July 2, 2024 in the importnt journal Animal Behaviour, with the title "Family pigs' and dogs' reactions to human emotional vocalizations—A citizen science study."

The study focused on comparing the reactions of companion dogs and miniature pigs to human emotional vocalizations. Researchers wanted to see how these animals would respond to two specific sounds: crying, which is a familiar but negative vocalization, and humming, which is less common and carries a neutral to slightly positive emotional tone.

Dogs and Emotional Contagion

The findings indicate that dogs, unlike pigs, tend to align their emotional states with the emotional content of the sounds they hear. When exposed to human crying, dogs displayed behaviors associated with high arousal and negative emotions, such as increased vocalization. This behavior aligns with the concept of emotional contagion, where an animal matches its emotional state to that of another being. This suggests that dogs are particularly sensitive to human emotions and capable of perceiving and responding to the emotional content of human vocalizations, even when the emotions are negative.

Pigs’ Reactions: A Different Perspective

Pigs, on the other hand, showed a different kind of response. When they heard the more neutral humming, they exhibited more stress-related behaviors, indicating a state of heightened arousal and negativity. This reaction was surprising, especially since humming is not typically associated with strong negative emotions. The researchers suggest that this might be because pigs find unusual or unexpected sounds more stressful than familiar ones, such as human crying. This response contrasts with dogs, who seem better adapted to understanding and reacting to the emotional cues of human vocalizations.

The Role of Domestication in Emotional Perception

These differences between dogs and pigs may stem from the distinct paths of domestication and human-animal interaction that each species has undergone. Dogs have been selectively bred for thousands of years to cooperate and interact closely with humans, possibly enhancing their ability to detect and respond to human emotions. Pigs, while also domesticated, have not been selectively bred for the same level of cooperation with humans, which might explain why they react differently to human sounds.

The Importance of Vocalizations in Cross-Species Communication

The study’s findings highlight the broader significance of vocalizations as a means of emotional communication across species. Vocal expressions of emotions, particularly negative ones like crying, tend to have conserved acoustic structures across different species. This means that many animals, not just humans, can understand and respond to these sounds. However, as the study suggests, dogs may have a unique advantage in perceiving these cues due to their long history of domestication and close interaction with humans.

Looking Ahead: Further Research Needed

While this study offers valuable insights into the emotional lives of dogs and pigs, it also opens up new questions. Further research, including physiological measurements, could help confirm these findings and deepen our understanding of how domestication has shaped the emotional responses of different animal species to human vocalizations.

For those interested in animal behavior and cognition, this research underscores the importance of considering both the evolutionary history and the unique human-animal relationships that shape how different species perceive and react to our emotions. As always, I’ll continue to keep a close eye on these developments and share more insights as they become available.

Marco Adda | The Founder

AEDC Anthrozoology Education Dogs Canines - Academy
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