Smarter dogs and cats: the new discoveries (cross-border guide)

Context

In a nutshell

• Animals perceive the environment with complex nuances.
• It changes the educational paradigm: from discipline to communication.
• Science confirms higher than expected cognitive abilities.

Key facts

• What: New discoveries about the intelligence of pets.
• When: August 2026.
• Where: Switzerland and international research.
• Who: Ethology experts and dog trainers.
• Focus: Cognitive skills and interspecies communication.

Recent scientific research, analysed inter alia by the Martin Rütter Zürich Oberland dog school, is redefining the understanding that humans have towards their pets. Maxi Lotz, a trainer at the Zurich facility, points out that the signals emitted by dogs, such as scratching their heads, are an expression of discomfort or replacement behaviour that requires careful interpretation by the owner. This new awareness is reflected in a daily management that privileges communication over the old model based exclusively on discipline and blind obedience. In a context where coexistence between man and animal becomes a collaborative relationship, scientific research has shown that dogs are able to master dozens of names of games, even grouping them into logical categories. These are not just instinctive reactions, but real cognitive faculties that include the ability to

Operational details

A paradigm shift in relationships.

The implications of these scientific findings are profound for those who live with a pet in Switzerland on a daily basis. If in the past training was focused on command and control, today the focus has shifted to mutual understanding. According to Judith Benz-Schwarzburg, an ethologist at the Messerli Forschungsinstitut in Vienna, the gap between human and animal mental faculties is narrowing considerably. Animals today show evidence of a complex inner mental life, characterized by desires, needs and even forms of culture or perception of death, elements that in the past were considered exclusive to humans. This change in perspective forces the Swiss owner to think seriously about the responsibilities that come with owning an animal. The question raised by the research goes beyond education: it asks about the fundamental rights of animals. If the dog or cat are no longer mere tools of companionship but beings endowed with a deep psychic life, how does our duty towards them change? The right to a life free of suffering, the right to life and the right to freedom are themes that, although abstract, condition the daily choices of the owners. For those residing in Switzerland, this also means dealing with legislation that protects animal welfare, but which is now being questioned by a science that

Recommended tools

For an updated estimate, use the net salary calculator and the CHF-EUR exchange comparator.

Key points

Procedures and best practices.

For those who want to deepen their pet's cognitive skills and improve coexistence, the first recommended action is to enroll in communication-based education courses. In Switzerland, the network of dog schools offers paths that integrate these new ethological discoveries, helping owners to correctly interpret replacement and stress signals. Proper management requires time, dedication and, above all, the ability to observe the animal without projecting unrealistic human expectations on it. If you have questions about managing expenses related to maintaining the animal or planning the resources needed for specialist veterinary care, it is useful to periodically consult your budget. Managing personal finances, perhaps by monitoring entries and exits with the calcolatore stipendio to ensure that you always have adequate coverage, allows you to face the needs of the animal with serenity. Financial planning is an integral part of responsible care, ensuring that any unforeseen events can be managed without affecting the welfare of the animal. It is also important to inquire about cantonal regulations regarding the keeping of pets, as the regulations may vary and impose specific requirements for public welfare and safety. Scientific research teaches us that the animal is an active subject in the relationship;

Source: rsi.ch