Cooperation and cognition in wild canids

Canids are believed to be clever animals applying sophisticated social and hunting strategies. However, current studies under natural conditions do not indicate higher cognitive requirements beyond associative learning, but likely also underestimate them as applied methods are still in a fledgling stage. Experimental studies on captive canids — almost exclusively on wolves and dogs — indicate role understanding, perspective taking skills and numerical competence. However, such studies do not inform us if and how such skills are used in the wild. Apart from urging researchers to combine both approaches, we also highlight the need to investigate the embodied cognition of canids, as their specific ecological needs and perceptual capabilities likely led to specialised neuroethological pattern recognition skills.