I've seen similar research that shows the converse, as well: wolves are more likely than dogs to learn how to solve puzzles by watching other canines work the puzzles.
It was in some dog documentary on Netflix. Wish I could remember the name!
Anyway I think that tendency to attune to us, generalized to other contexts, is part of what makes dogs so wonderful. It's not just a matter of being able to direct them explicitly, but the fact that they're interested in what we're doing, how we're feeling, what we want, etc.
All of that varies with each individual dog, of course. But it's obvious that generally, wolves and humans aren't as fit for each other as dogs and humans are.
Re:The Myth of the Alpha Wolf
by AlbertCory on Saturday March 25, 2023 @05:44PM
(#35307757)
Yeah. I'd love to go on a wolf-watching trip, like I did a grizzly-watching trip on Kodiak Island. We made dogs out of wolves via selective breeding, albeit not always consciously.
Re:The Myth of the Alpha Wolf
by stormfather on Saturday March 25, 2023 @06:13PM
(#35308005)
Ah so the dogs have instruction fine tuning.
Find the treat that the human points at. The dog puppy follows the cue, while the wolf does not.
That doesn't mean there's anything wrong with the wolf, but it's genetically less likely to defer and learn from the human.