Researchers train old pets to play computer games – News Techcology

Researchers train old pets to play computer games – News Techcology
Letting your dog get away with disobedience won’t benefit it during its old age, a new study has found.Researchers at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna discovered that, instead, having your elderly dog play games on a touch screen might stave off cognitive decline.The scientists found that brain training and problem solving can slow the pace of brain deterioration. But the older dogs that could benefit from the training are rarely introduced to it.The study explains: ‘Unlike puppies or young dogs, old dogs are almost never trained or challenged mentally.’Senior dogs are usually perfectly integrated into our lives and we often forgive them any disobedience or stubbornness.’In addition, due to their increasing physical limitations, we usually spare old dogs the sort of training we might expect from young animals.’The researchers who conducted the study say that computer games are a good alternative to physical training, which many older dogs cannot complete. They claim these can help your dog stay mentally fit at the age when mental facilities usually decline.According to the new study computer games paired with a reward system when dogs participate in them can replace demanding physical training and increase dogs’ brainpower.This process was tested during the study in a laboratory, and researchers say the next step is converting it to a living room-friendly format.The study compared computer games for elderly dogs to elderly humans doing Sudoku puzzles.Study auth
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