Italian study finds that dogs feel empathy for one another

A study published this week in the Journal of Open Science suggests that dogs seem to socialise among themselves by mimicry.

The study conducted by researchers from the University of Pisa in Italy found that dogs use rapid mimicry to socially bond with each other. According to online publication Cnet, rapid mimicry is a response that scientists have found in both humans and apes that is linked to our capacity for empathy.

The research even suggests that dogs experience a certain amount of empathy with fellow canines, leading to a stronger and even sophisticated system of communication. Nearly 50 dogs of various breeds were used in the study.