bipa
New Member
Some of you know about this already, but I thought it might be interesting to posit an experiment and then guess the results. Or maybe nobody will feel like answering, in which case I’ll just post the answer after a while and move on :dogunsure:
We’ll split our dogs into two groups, very originally called Group A and Group B :dogtongue2:
First we build a wooden box – a large rectangle. In the middle we place some boards as a barrier. It is low enough that a dog can jump from one area to the other over the boards. Then in one half of the box, electric shock mats are placed, not strong enough to hurt the dogs, but enough to produce an extremely unpleasant sensation on the threshold of pain.
A dog from Group A is placed on the mats. The mats are turned on, and of course the dog jumps over the barrier to the other half where there are no mats and no shocks. All Group A dogs go through this experience. So far, so good.
Now we raise the barrier so that the dogs can’t jump and reach the other area. Group B dogs experience the shocks for a while with no means of escape.
Now we lower the barrier so it can be easily jumped again, and repeat the experiment with both Group A and Group B dogs.
How do the dogs react when the mats are turned on? Is there any difference in response between the dogs in Group A and Group B?
This experiment was actually done at a university, (with a slight variation involving a third group of dogs), so the results are known.
I’m curious as to how many here have heard of this experiment, and how those who don’t know about it would guess the dogs would behave in the final stage.
We’ll split our dogs into two groups, very originally called Group A and Group B :dogtongue2:
First we build a wooden box – a large rectangle. In the middle we place some boards as a barrier. It is low enough that a dog can jump from one area to the other over the boards. Then in one half of the box, electric shock mats are placed, not strong enough to hurt the dogs, but enough to produce an extremely unpleasant sensation on the threshold of pain.
A dog from Group A is placed on the mats. The mats are turned on, and of course the dog jumps over the barrier to the other half where there are no mats and no shocks. All Group A dogs go through this experience. So far, so good.
Now we raise the barrier so that the dogs can’t jump and reach the other area. Group B dogs experience the shocks for a while with no means of escape.
Now we lower the barrier so it can be easily jumped again, and repeat the experiment with both Group A and Group B dogs.
How do the dogs react when the mats are turned on? Is there any difference in response between the dogs in Group A and Group B?
This experiment was actually done at a university, (with a slight variation involving a third group of dogs), so the results are known.
I’m curious as to how many here have heard of this experiment, and how those who don’t know about it would guess the dogs would behave in the final stage.