Using a series of non-harmful experiments, Takaoka’s study was designed to determine if dogs adjust their behavior based on the level of trust they feel towards a person. For example, one of the experiments was to test if dogs always follow a person’s pointing gestures.

For this experiment, Takaoka tested 34 dogs. First, each dog would be brought into a room. Then, a person would point to a container that was either filled or not filled with food.

When the experiment began, a person pointed towards a dish filled with food. In response, each of the dogs went toward the container that a person pointed to.

Next, the person pointed to another container that had no food in it. In response, the dogs went toward the container again. After having this experience, the person was directed to point to a third container that had food in it. However, when the person pointed toward the container, none of the dogs went towards the container.

Based on the actions of the dogs, this experiment supports that dogs do not immediately follow people’s pointing gestures. To follow a person’s command, the dog needs to believe that the individual is reliable. In this case, after the dogs were misled through being pointed to an empty food bowl, the dogs showed an immediate change in their behavior.