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

White husky with its tongue out in a blue stripes bow tie collar and leash

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:

The meaning comes from how the word is used online and from slang dictionaries. The science section says only what the linked sources say; we read each one before quoting it. The drawing and example sentences are made up for fun.

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.

Keep exploring