Imagine you're a dog, and your owner is trapped in a box, crying out for help. Do you sense their distress? Can you free them? Researchers Joshua Van Bourg and Clive Wynne, an ASU psychology professor and director of the Canine Science Collaboratory, explored these questions in a study with 60 untrained dogs.
Popular lore, from Lassie to modern tales, portrays dogs as heroic rescuers. To test this, Van Bourg and Wynne designed an experiment assessing dogs' natural inclination to save their owners.
The Main Test
Owners were locked in a large box with a lightweight, slidable door. They authentically yelled 'Help!' or 'Help me!' after coaching, without calling their dog's name to ensure actions stemmed from concern, not obedience.
“About a third of the dogs rescued their distressed owner—not impressive at first glance, but remarkable upon closer examination,” said Van Bourg.
This involves two factors: the dogs' motivation to help and their understanding of how. Unlike prior studies, they included rigorous control tests.
Control Tests
In one, a researcher dropped food into the box; only 19 of 60 dogs opened it. More dogs saved owners than sought food.
“Without verifying each dog's ability to open the box, rescue rates underestimate true motivation,” Van Bourg explained. “Two-thirds ignored food, showing rescue demands skill beyond drive. Among those 19 skilled dogs, 84% saved their owners. Most dogs want to help—they just need to know how.”
In another, owners sat quietly reading a magazine. Fewer dogs (16 of 60) opened the box compared to the emergency test, proving proximity alone didn't drive actions.
“It's not always about rescue per se,” Van Bourg noted, “but dogs' bond is profound. They'd enter a burning building to reunite. Distress amplifies this.”
Dogs' Behaviors
Researchers observed stress indicators like whining, pacing, barking, and yawning across scenarios.
“Dogs showed far more stress in emergencies,” Van Bourg said. “They barked and howled more when owners were upset—eight howled only then, versus one for food.”
Stress persisted across emergency repeats, unlike the reading test where it habituated.
“The owner's distress overrides acclimation,” he added. These signs point to emotional contagion—or empathy.
“This study reveals dogs deeply care for us,” Wynne said. “Many untrained dogs attempt rescues when we seem distressed. Failures stem from lack of skill, not indifference.”
