Abstract
Despite anecdotal reports of the astonishing homing abilities in dogs, their homing strategies are not fully understood. We equipped 27 hunting dogs with GPS collars and action cams, let them freely roam in forested areas, and analyzed components of homing in over 600 trials. When returning to the owner (homewards), dogs either followed their outbound track ('tracking') or used a novel route ('scouting'). The inbound track during scouting started mostly with a short (about 20 m) run along the north-south geomagnetic axis, irrespective of the actual direction homewards. Performing such a 'compass run' significantly increased homing efficiency. We propose that this run is instrumental for bringing the mental map into register with the magnetic compass and to establish the heading of the animal.
Highlights
In 399 cases (59.4 %), dogs homed by following their outbound track, and in 223 cases (33.2 %), dogs homed using novel route
It is unlikely that the direct involvement of visual, olfactory or celestial cues can explain the highly stereotyped and consistent ~north south alignment of the compass run
There was no effect of the body height on the probability of north-south alignment when compared to east-west alignment, a fact which is not consistent with a visual piloting hypothesis
Summary
Broadly defined as the ability to return to a known goal location (e.g. breeding grounds, shelter sites) after displacement (Schmidt-Koenig and Keeton, 1978; Papi, 1992; Wiltschko and Wiltschko, 1995), has been shown in a taxonomically diverse range of vertebrates that rely on a multitude of cues, for example visual, olfactory, acoustic, celestial, magnetic, and idiothetic (SchmidtKoenig and Keeton, 1978; Papi, 1992; Wiltschko and Wiltschko, 1995; Cullen and Taube, 2017; Lohmann, 2018; Mouritsen, 2018). The first studies designed to examine navigational abilities in dogs were performed, revealing homing success even if displaced to unfamiliar sites (Schmid 1932, 1936 cited in Nahm, 2015). A more comprehensive study observed consistent homing success in a total of 26 dogs displaced without exposure to visual cues in various geographic directions. Dogs often homed using novel routes and/ or shortcuts, ruling out route reversal strategies, and making olfactory tracking and visual piloting
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
