Bamboozle: meaning, and why dogs fall for the fake throw

Golden retriever lying in purple flowers in a morning floral collar

DoggoLingo dictionary

verb · also: bamboozled, heckin bamboozle

bamboozle: To trick. As in the fake throw. As in the empty hand.

In DoggoLingo you get bamboozled when a human pretends to throw the ball and doesn't, or shows you an empty hand where a treat should be. A heckin bamboozle is the worst kind.

In DoggoLingo

“Hooman pretend to throw ball. Ball still in hand. I have been bamboozled.”

Use “bamboozle” in a sentence

Mocha has been bamboozled by the fake throw for the third time today.

Bamboozle: the real science

Bamboozle, defined

To bamboozle is to deceive or get the better of someone by trickery. [1]

Why the fake throw works (once)

Dogs are remarkably good at reading human gestures: in one study, dogs followed pointing to find hidden food better than chimpanzees did, and even young puppies could do it. [2] So yes, they were watching your arm. Play fair and throw it next time.

Bamboozle questions

What does bamboozle mean in DoggoLingo?

Being tricked, usually by a fake throw or an empty hand. The everyday meaning is to deceive by trickery. [1]

Why do dogs fall for the fake throw?

They read our gestures closely; dogs follow human pointing very well. [2]

How we got this

Not veterinary advice. Last reviewed:

意味は、オンラインでの言葉の使い方やスラング辞典から得られたものです。「科学」セクションには、リンク先の情報のみを記載しています。引用する前に、私たちは一つひとつの資料を読んでいます。イラストと例文は、楽しむために作ったものです。

Sources

  1. bamboozle. Dictionary.com. Supports: To bamboozle is to deceive or get the better of someone by trickery.
  2. Hare B, Brown M, Williamson C, Tomasello M (2002). The domestication of social cognition in dogs. Science. Supports: Dogs follow human pointing to find hidden food, better than chimpanzees, and even puppies a few weeks old can do it.

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