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Originally Posted by David Bailey  If you think there are normal explanations for this effect when there are other people present who do not know the return time - please tell us all what they are. |
You are assuming that the people present have no idea whatsoever at all about the return time. This is an assumption.
Using the ill defined criteria that Sheldrake used a trial is defined as a success if the dog spends more time doing the "signal" when the owner is coming home than during the rest of the time. This "signal" would be generated if the dog has any information at all about the return time. Even in the "random" Jaytee trials the owner's parents had some idea from knowing when the video recorded started.
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Obviously it would be nice if the dogs would perform entirely on their own, but dogs do perform diferently in front of people.
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They also perform differently due to information they get from people. The real question is how you can tell the difference. Alex has already made his conclusions.
Do you have any comments regarding explicitly testing this form of sensory leakage? Do some truly random trials where the humans present have no information about the return time and another set where they do. Does the dog perform better when the humans know the return time?
I get tired of making contructive suggestions if nobody comments on them.