Canine models of occupational expertise

Document Type

Conference Proceeding

Publication Date

1-1-2006

Abstract

The role of inherent talents or biological predispositions in the acquisition of expertise is controversial. Because the genetics and early life experiences of humans are not open to direct manipulation, human experimental studies are of limited utility in resolving this issue. Studies employing non-humans as expert models may prove more useful. In order for non-humans to be considered proper models of human experts, there needs to be evidence supporting a shared expertise-acquisition mechanism. A candidate mechanism is deliberate practice. The deliberate practice theory of expertise acquisition was investigated in dogs competing in agility. The relationships between amounts of accumulated deliberate practice and agility performance measures were examined in this study, controlling for sex, breed, age, and height. There was a statistically significant relationship between the amount of deliberate practice and measured performance in agility dogs.

Publication Title

Proceedings of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society

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