When you are feeling down, a dog can often act as a better confidant than another human.
They also listen better, respond appropriately to your emotions, and seem to genuinely care about your feelings. What gives?
It should come as no surprise that dogs are capable of intense feelings. They are highly social, pack animals with strong emotional connections to other dogs. They have their own social structures and bonding rituals, many of which mirror human social structures.
The same emotional connections that dogs experience in packs can transfer easily to any group setting, including cross-species situations. To your dog, you are family. It is as simple as that.
Of course, there are many other fascinating things that your dog understands about you that you may not be aware of. Sometimes their abilities can be downright spooky, but there are strong scientific explanations for your dog’s behaviors. Understanding how your dog perceives you can help you relate better to your pet.
Here is a look at 15 things your dog can sense about you along with some insight into how dogs do these things and what it all means.
1. Dogs Know When You Are Sad
When you feel sad, your dog will immediately pick up on this and adjust his behavior accordingly. He may become more subdued than usual, lose interest in his toys and even refuse his food.
Usually, your dog will quietly observe you from a corner of the room. After a while, he may come over and lie down at your feet or gently rest his head in your lap. Many dogs will even try to lick away tears as they fall. A dog’s master is the center of his entire world, so sensing your feelings of sadness will have an effect on him too.
In a study published in the journal “Animal Cognition,” researchers found that a dog was more likely to approach someone who was crying than someone who was humming or talking. Furthermore, they found that dogs respond to weeping with submissive behavior.
In other words, dogs seem to be trying to placate a person who is upset. What is more, dogs will approach anyone who is upset the same way, regardless of whether that person is their owner or not.
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The scientists insist that this study does not prove that dogs experience empathy, but it certainly goes a long way to supporting the claim. It also clearly indicates that dogs can identify sadness as an emotion that is different from other feelings.
2. Dogs Can Sense Your Intentions
Even before you turn on the shower or touch his towel, your dog knows you intend to give him a bath and will immediately run for cover. The same goes for haircuts, nail trims and administering medicine.
On the other side, your dog will also understand if your intentions are pure and you are performing the task for his own good.
Most dogs will submit to unpleasant experiences, such as nail trims, if their owner is close by to offer some reassuring words and gentle encouragement.
At least one study has shown that dogs read intentions by reading behavior. A 2011 study published in “Learning & Behavior” found that domestic dogs are roughly as intelligent as a 2-year-old human. That means that they are capable of understanding the meaning of roughly 165 words and that they can make sense of body language.
It turns out that dogs use eye contact and gaze to figure out what people are thinking. Just as a mentalist will follow your gaze to determine what is on your mind that you don’t want him to know, so too will dogs follow your gaze to get a read on what you are thinking.
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So, when you look at the bathtub while calling your dog, he knows you are thinking of cleaning off the dead skunk he worked so hard to grind into his fur.
3. Dogs can Sense Any Diseases You May Have
Various studies have confirmed that dogs have the ability to detect certain diseases such as cancer through their keen sense of smell.
Some dogs can even be trained to warn epilepsy sufferers when they are about to have a seizure.
There are many different training centers opening in various parts of the world that are dedicated to training dogs to detect the subtle chemical changes in the human body that signal disease.
A dog’s ability to sense disease comes down to an ability to detect chemicals known as volatile organic compounds or VOCs. VOCs are what allows us to sense odor and though some are toxic, the term generally applies to any chemical that can get into your nose because it is a gas. While humans can detect certain potent VOCs, our limited sense of smell is no match for what dogs can do.
Depending on the breed, a dog’s sense of smell can be anywhere from 10,000 to 100,000 times stronger than a human’s. That means that a dog can pick up a scent that is up to 100,000 times weaker than any scent a human can detect.
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If you translate that into terms we understand, like vision, it means that while a human can see roughly 1/3 of a mile, a dog could see just as well at a distance of 3,000 miles if his eyesight were as good, relative to our own, as his nose is! Put another way, a dog can detect a teaspoon of sugar in a million gallons of water.
4. Dogs Understand When You Feel Scared
If you have a Rottweiler or Doberman, then your burly protector will most likely spring into action and come to your rescue.
Smaller dogs, or those with nervous temperaments, will follow your lead and start to feel scared themselves.
Your dog will always look to you for guidance on how to react in certain situations, so if you want your dog to be brave you will have to lead by example.
Fear is an emotion shared by a large number of animals, dogs included. While it is true that dogs can “smell” fear, it is also true that they intuitively understand the body language associated with it.
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Dogs, like humans, have a customary reaction to fear. Their hair stands up, their pupils dilate, their lips curl, and their stance changes. When they associate their fear posturing with human fear posturing, they gain an understanding of what humans look like when they are afraid. Combine this with their awesome sense of smell and it’s no wonder that dogs can so easily detect fear.
5. Dogs Know When You Are Being Unfair
A study performed in Austria tested what would happen if one dog was rewarded for performing a trick while another was not given anything for completing the same task.
The dogs that did not receive a reward became agitated at the sight of their peers receiving treats. They responded by scratching and licking themselves with impatience. In other words, they recognized the unfairness of the situation.
Notably, the dogs that took part in the study were unable to differentiate between the sizes of the rewards. If one dog received a sausage while another received bread, both dogs were more than happy with their prize. Remember, dogs are roughly as intelligent as a 2-year-old child.
Many animals have a sense of justice. Chimps, for instance, have a very strong sense of right and wrong and even take pleasure in punishing those who break the rules. Dogs have their own sense of fairness and it results from their social structure.
One reason that dogs understand fairness arises out of their roots as wolves. Researchers have found that, because wolves must coordinate as a pack to hunt, they depend upon rules of fairness to survive.
A wolf that doesn’t pull his weight won’t be allowed to partake in the rewards of a hunt. By the same token, a wolf that works hard to bring down an elk isn’t going to respond well to being denied a piece of the prize.
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Treat your dog the way you would want to be treated. Human and canine justice both come down to that simple golden rule.
6. Dogs Understand If You Suddenly Have Other Priorities
A new baby, boyfriend, hobby or even a new pet can lead to feelings of jealousy and resentment from your pampered pooch.
Some dogs have even been known to physically insert themselves between two lovers in order to shift the attention back onto them.
Having pointed out that dogs are able to recognize and cope with shifts in your priorities, remember that they don’t want to be neglected. The most important thing in the life of your pet is you.
Your dog relies on you to feed and care for his most basic needs. To let your dog know that you still care, do your best to keep his routine intact. A disruption in a dog’s routine will not only trigger feelings of jealousy, but will also play on your pet’s sense of justice.
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If your dog displays feelings of jealousy, try to encourage him to interact with the new member of the family. Set aside at least ten minutes a day for some ‘alone time’ between you and your dog. Do right by your dog by responding to his emotional needs the way you would with a person.
7. Dogs Sense When You Are Angry
If you come home and find your dog knee-deep in the garbage can, placing your hands on your hips and issuing a disapproving stare is often enough to convey your anger.
When on the receiving end of discipline, a dog will often crouch down, tremble, whine and occasionally lose bladder control.
A recent study found that dogs will display this behavior when reprimanded even if they haven’t actually done anything wrong. It is clear that dogs can sense anger, but it is also clear that they can’t always understand its source.
Dogs often don’t know if you are angry at them or as the result of something else. This can be a disastrous situation because a dog may change his behavior in response to your anger, even if he has done nothing wrong. If this happens often enough, your dog may become frustrated with the lack of consistency in the rules and start to act out. Once again, this harkens back to a dog’s sense of justice.
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Your pet will try to please you, but if he feels you are treating him unfairly and that he can do no right, he will start to act out.
8. Dogs Know If You Are A Generous Person
An experiment organized by the University of Milan allowed dogs to observe humans in social situations.
The dogs watched one set of actors sharing their food with a homeless man and another group telling the man to leave in an aggressive manner. Afterward, the two sets of actors attempted to call the dogs at the same time.
Almost all of the dogs would respond to the generous actors when called and avoided the aggressive group.
Generosity is about justice as much as it is about kindness. It is also about tone of voice, anger, and all of the things previously discussed. The bottom line is that your dog knows when you are being generous and when you are being stingy.
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If you are stingy too often, your dog may begin to take things behind your back, act out, or otherwise let you know he is disappointed. Dogs expect reciprocity, they expect kindness, and they expect fairness. Dogs have a strong moral compass, which is what makes them such outstanding companions. They expect you to live a moral life and will react accordingly.
9. Dogs Immediately Know When Your Back is Turned
Many dogs would not dream of stealing food in front of their owner, but doing it behind their back is another situation entirely.
Researchers tested the willpower of several dogs by setting treats down in front of them and then forbidding the dogs to approach the food. As soon as the researchers left the room, every one of the dogs inhaled the food in an instant.
With a sense of justice comes a sense of understanding what one can get away with. How much can you cheat on your taxes? Should you tell a white lie to avoid that boring party? Satisfaction sometimes dictates that we do things that are less than honest so that we can gain some pleasure.
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With dogs, food is a major source of pleasure. They don’t have access to food the way humans do, able to eat any time they want, so don’t be surprised when your dog risks mild punishment for stealing a little food when your back is turned.
10. Dogs Understand If You Are A Pushover
Larger breeds sometimes don’t understand their own strength and can be dangerous if they suddenly decide to surprise a child or an old person with a hug.
However, just because a dog is well-behaved for its master or trainer does not mean it will act the same way for everyone else.
Dogs like to test the boundaries on a regular basis. If they find someone who does not punish them for pulling on the leash, digging up the garden, or eating the garbage, they will take advantage their new-found freedom.
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Dogs rely heavily on social hierarchies to determine what they are and are not allowed to do in a setting. If you want your dog to behave, then he or she needs to see you as the alpha in the relationship.
To maintain alpha status, you need to do what an alpha dog would do. That means making your dog heel on walks, going through doorways first, always eating first, never feeding the dog from the table, and sticking to your punishments when the dog has misbehaved. If you maintain alpha status, your dog will never think you are a pushover.
11. Dogs Can Sense If A Woman Is Pregnant
Many owners report that their dogs suddenly become much more protective, attentive, and loving.
They also report that the dogs begin escorting them everywhere they go. Your dog may also sniff or nuzzle your belly and rest his head on it.
Dogs pick up on hormonal changes, such as when a woman is menstruating, so the ability to sniff out a pregnancy is not so far-fetched.
It should come as no surprise that your dog may feel put out by the new bundle of joy in your home. To ensure that dog and baby are happy together, you need to start preparing your canine friend for the new baby as soon as you know you are pregnant.
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Most experts recommend that you give the pet a special place that belongs only to him, that you take time each day to spend only with your dog, and that you don’t change routine if it you can avoid it. If you must change your dog’s routine, then start early and do it gradually.
You want the change to be complete before the baby is born so that your dog doesn’t associate the ruination of his daily routine with the baby.
12. Dogs Know When You Are Taking Them To The Vet
As soon as you load him into the car, your dog will already know what is going on. He may stare worriedly out of the window, pace back and forth, or eye you suspiciously.
Once you get to the vets, then most dogs develop a set of anti-lock brakes that makes them impossible to move.
Even if they are visiting a new vet for the first time, as soon as the door opens, they already understand that what is in store isn’t pleasant.
A dog knows that he is going to the vet thanks to his sense of smell and his ability to read body language. You probably can’t make a trip to the vet fun for your dog, but you can make it less anxiety-provoking.
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Most experts recommend that you acclimate your dog to the vet by taking him there on visits (no shots or prodding during these times). You should also “play doctor” with your dog. That means touching him on the pads of his feet, looking in his mouth, and otherwise doing things that a vet would do.
You want to normalize these behaviors for your dog so that they aren’t alarming when the vet does them.
13. Dogs Understand When You Are Grieving
There have been many stories of pets grieving for their dead owners, and many have kept up vigils next to their owner’s grave or previous home.
Losing a loved one brings a deep sadness that is very unlike other kinds that result from the breakup of a relationship or disappointment at work.
Your dog will understand when you are mourning a loved one and will most likely go through a grieving process of his own. He may become clingier or more attentive. Some dogs have been known to howl when experiencing bereavement.
To help your dog deal with grief, start by maintaining his normal routine. Believe it our not, too much affection can be a bad thing. Some dogs will see it as a sign of weakness and take it that they need to assume the alpha role.
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You need to be calm and confident when a pet is grieving. Your job is as much about helping the dog move one (by playing, maintaining routine, etc.) as it is about placating your pet. Keep in mind that you should never introduce a new pet during a time of grief. Wait until your dog has recovered before getting a new puppy.
14. Dogs Know If You Are A Good Person
New science suggests that, contrary to what neurologists previously believed, the heart actually has a stronger electromagnetic field than the brain.
It also sends messages to the brain, through neurotransmitters, that influence thoughts and behavior.
When we describe someone as being “goodhearted,” it means that the person literally has a force field of good energy radiating from their heart. Dogs have been aware of this magnetic field for centuries and will naturally gravitate toward those who emit good energy.
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Dogs will also know if you are a good person based on your body language and how you treat others. If your dealings with others are just and fair, your dog will pick up on that based on how people react to you. Just as the dogs above were drawn to the more generous individuals, dogs are also drawn to those they perceive as more fair or trustworthy.
It isn’t entirely clear how dogs make these moral judgments, but it is clear that you need to be consistently fair, both to your dog and to those around you, to let your pet know that you are a good person.
15. Dogs Understand When You Do Not Like Someone
Dopamine and serotonin are released into our system and cause a chemical reaction that leads to feelings of happiness, joy, infatuation and ecstasy.
The same thing happens when you look at a person you do not like. Except in this case the body releases a completely different set of hormones that are associated with hate, resentment and fear.
Your dog can detect these changes in you, and will most likely begin to dislike the person that caused your reaction.
Of course, body language plays a role in whether your pet thinks you like someone or not. Keep in mind that any dog, even a gentle dog, may try to protect you from people it perceives as a threat.
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If you are avoiding a person, watching that person closely, or are otherwise sending out signals that you distrust someone, don’t be surprised if your dog barks, growls, or lunges at that person if he or she tries to approach you.
This is important to keep in mind because your behavior can help put your dog at ease and thus decrease the chances of a confrontation in which you, your dog, or another individual may be injured.
So do my cats. Both of my dogs and all four of my cats crowd around me when I am upset. GOTTA LOVE ‘EM!
Awww you are surrounded by love. How cool.
It is the only way to live.
No it is not cool lol.
Agreed!
Agreed! My three cats & AmStaff/pit mix, Otis, know when I’m sad or sick. They are more gentle and cuddle with me. My sister is pregnant and Otis actually stopped jumping on her when her belly got bigger. She loves wrestling with him and when she started showing, he got more gentle with her. It was really sweet to see 🙂
An American staffordshire terrier is the same thing as a pit bull. Am staff is the politically correct term for a pit bull. No other kennel club recognizes am staff, they just call them what they are, a pit bull. You have a an American pit bull terrier unless he’s short and all muscled up to the point he can’t move then he would be an American bully, which is the result of people ruining the real pit bull working breed
“The Am Staff and the American Pit Bull Terrier (APBT) used to be considered one and the same, but they now have different bloodlines.”
Actually American Staffordshire and American bulldogs are considered part of the pit bull breed. It’s a general term for them.
My pit hunts by day and cuddles my baby daughter by night. That is a true American pit bull terrier
Lets hope he doesn’t get his days and nights mixed up. Personally I don’t trust em, and I love dogs.
Whenever a dogbreed becomes popular, suddenly the population goes up and you get more reports; good and bad. Further, some breeders cashing in on this phenomina will inbreed there dogs. Remember Lenny from “Of Mice and Men”? Big gentle guy who would suddenly snap?
Same thing with dogs: there’s a reason why cousins shouldn’t marry each other.
You are right! Not bad dogs, but irresponsible owners and poor breeding.
My dog was not too bright. He thought I was taking him to the vet to be tutored.
Worse, you can’t take him to the racetrack; he’ll get upset each time the announcer says, “They’re off!”
LAst dog I had was an american Shepard, smart dog but he had a nervous tick and would crap on the floor before I got him out to do his business. I’ll get another one, a german shepherd soon. I love those dogs.
My dog is so proud of himself when he does something he shouldn’t. Like get into the trash. He’ll great me at the door with a goofy grin and show me what he did.
My dog knew when my other dog was ill. She let him use her bed (a magnetic pad) so he would feel better. She wasn’t surprised when I came home one sad day without him. She already knew. I wish I’d gotten two of those magnetic beds.
The morning when my sister had to put her ( male) dog down, her female dog gave him her ice cream treat. It was like she just knew he wasn’t coming home. My sister gave them ice cream because Lucky just loved it.
Other than my husband, My dog is literally my best friend. His name is Ruger, and he is a 6 month old black lab and he is our child basically. He is a very emotional dog. he pouts, he smiles and he loves like no dog I’ve ever had before. When I’m not feeling well, he will not leave my side. I have to physically get up and have him eat, drink, go potty because he wont leave me. I love him to pieces. He always knows how to cheer me up.
He is gorgeous!
Sweet little guy.
Cindy, be careful. It’s only a picture.
Now that’s real love. I have 2 doxies and they are my babies. precious is 5 months old and Kiara is about 3 years old. Your dog is beautiful and sweet. 🙂
Shiva was my best friend, my baby, and my teacher. I had to say good bye to her about four and a half years ago, she was almost 13. This was by far, literally, the worst day of my life. It was worse than loosing a parent to cancer when I was younger; than the “break-up” with my “first-love”; than anything I could have ever imagined. I read some where something along these lines: The pain we have to endure once they leave us, is the price we must pay for being allowed to have them in our lives; the… Read more »
Corey, I totally understand. Our Milo JRT died last March 31, we had to euthanize him due to lymphoma that would not respond to chemo/radiation; it was truly, like you said, by far the hardest thing we ever had to do. Milo was our child, he was going to be 12 yrs old; the look in his eyes when he knew he was breaking my heart stays with me. I think he was concerned about me while he could not breath due to the mass in his chest. We brought Milo home from the hospital so he would not need… Read more »
My Radar was one i wanted to die myself
“heart dogs” … a lovely designation…but I really think every dog I have had in my life have been “heart dogs.”
9 dogs different breeds…2 cockers, 4 malamutes, 2 goldens and one bison…all heart dogs.
I feel the same way about my Radar,
I can relate because my dog is truly my best friend who knows when I’m feeling down and just recently she saved me from having a heart attack. She barked at me like she was going to attack me I got kinda of scared but I’m glad she did it because I don’t think that I’d be living if it wasn’t for my dog. They found out that I have congested heart failure so, thank God for my dog Sasha she truly a blessing sent by God.
My dog is very lovable too. If I’m not home for awhile, especially for a few days, he will refuse to eat and lay around all day sad. And when I lived with my grandmother, he’d scratch at my bedroom door (they had a dog so we shut my door so she wouldn’t go in) to be let in. And he gives me so many kisses when I wake up and gets extremely happy when I’m home and is always in the same room as me!
I had a male dog urinate on an unwelcome visitor to my home. This dog in all his years never had an accident in the house. It was flat out deliberate. I was trying to get the man to leave when my Shadow dog took things into his own paws. Walked over to the man and hiked a leg on him. Good boy!
Wow! Such a good boy!
My father told a story about being on the parade ground on an Army base with his soldiers in formation on the field, and a dog coming up and urinating on a sergeant that no one liked. Hilarious!
Oh that would be soooooooooo funny!
My cat once climbed onto the kitchen table (where he never has gone), scraped all my bills that were stacked there into a pile, and peed on them. That was because I forgot to feed him. But to be fair, I think it was just a message – he didn’t realize the seriousness to me, though he must have known the bills meant something to me. To get my attention, he’ll knock over things that I have touched in the last week, but not the last day. Maybe he thinks that the most recent would get him into trouble he… Read more »
Your CAT. Get out.
While I own two pitbulls now, I used to own a male black/white longhair Persian Named Charlie. Charlie would get REAL upset if I left the house without making sure his catbox was clean first thing. I’m not talking encrusted here, one pee overnight was enough, it had to go. So I get home from work one day and immediately realized I hadn’t checked his box before I left that morning; so I started looking, and looking, and I couldn’t find, well, you know. So I praised him for being good and settled down for the evening. Everything was fine… Read more »
I have 3 dogs the daddy the son and another female and now she’s pregnant chihuahua dogs
My dog has done that too! It is so hilarious! They really can tell.
A friend’s father had a standard poodle that was a really great dog. This poodle would fetch the newspaper from the driveway when told to do so. On one very rainy day, the father opened the front door and commanded the poodle get the paper – the poodle hesitated so the father booted the poodle off the front porch into the rain. The poodle got the paper brought it to the front porch where he dropped and an promptly peed on it. True story. Hah!
I think my cat can sense when I’m sad. But the difference is that he doesn’t give a crap. Though I admit he tried threatening me once when I was sick to see if I was faking, probably a tactic he would have used with kittens.
When you feed a dog, shelter him, and treat him well, he thinks you are some kind of god. When you feed a cat, shelter him, and treat him well, the cat thinks that he himself is the god.
Oh, I agree. Cats have far more abilities than people give them credit for. My cat cares about a lot of things, but not all. My sister-in-law remarked that she had never seen a cat like mine. When I asked why, she said that he answers me every time I speak to him. I told her I didn’t raise him to be rude (to which I got no laughs but weird looks). Common phrases like that a cat “thinks its owner is its mother” really rankle me. How long would any animal survive that walked off with a different species… Read more »
Yeah, but THEY don’t have to deal with those lunatics on the Parkway. Get go eat and sleep all day.
I have PTSD and a new puppy. She’s been very good for the anxiety and the nightmares. I’ve noticed lately when I have a nightmare, I wake to her licking my face. It certainly makes them easier to deal with.
Patty, I wish you well and am glad you have an angel by your side.
Thank you. I appreciate that. I have recently moved into a secure apartment building that you have to be buzzed into, between her and the new apartment I am slowly feeling safer in life. It also helps that I am on the 4th floor, so I no longer worry about someone looking in my windows. When I was 8, that was part of my stalking by my rapist. He would stare into my windows and watch me sleep. By the time my father got out there, because he lived next door, he’d be gone. This went on for a year… Read more »
remember “As Good As It Gets” with Helen Hunt and Jack Nicholson and the gay neighbor with his little dog Verdell? well, I lucked out at the Humane Society and came home 5 years ago with a long-legged, longer body Brussels Griffon! you have to see him to appreciate the name I gave him, SAM I AM! I’ve had several dogs from the H.S. but Sam is by far so intelligent and follows commands to the point I oftentimes am left in awe! I go one way around a tree, Sam goes another. I say “back,” and here comes Sam… Read more »
The article was spot on.The only thing I didn’t see was dog’s sense when you are going out for the evening. When I would be going out at night my dog would sit at top of the steps outside of bedroom like she was saying “you aren’t going anywhere without me.”
Or preparing for a trip. Dog looks at me with a sad face. Cat gets in the suitcase.
I guess that shows which one has the most practical intelligence. No screwing around! I’m going with you!
Our dog seems to like to go to the vet. She pulls eagerly from the car to the door then pulls toward the exam rom as soon as we are told which one. The vet and all of the employees are treated as special friends.
mine freaks all out when its time to go to the vet but he loves going on hikes and to the park.
my little dog is my bff <3 he is a handsome little guy <3
Thank you……this article is encouraging
my dog is a lab. I came back from SWA. He literally laid over under and on top for a month. I do NOT deserve such kindness. I don’t want him upset if I blow a seal and snap one day.
Blowing a seal is easy. Blowing a killer whale — that’s another story. Also, where or what is SWA? Southwest Asia? Africa? Australia?
Dogs are very forgiving. It’s a good thing in many cases. But be an adult and direct your anger at the right places. Animals can learn about mistakes, though. My cat, when young, used to fear me after I stepped on his tail or something. Now, I say, “I’m sorry” and pet his head. He’ll then act frisky and go right back to the exact spot where I hurt him. He seems to understand it was an accident and signals that by putting himself in jeopardy again. He learned early that static electricity was not my fault, though as a… Read more »
I have a 6 year old Rott that absolutely LOVES his vet. Mention her name and he gets all excited and is ready to go see her. Can’t wait to get there and when he finally does see her he will let out a howl of excitement and rush to her just as happy as can be. Here’s a picture of him waiting for her to arrive.
WOW!!! Another good old dog!!! I can tell he seems really happy to see his Doctor!!!
I, too, have rotties. The biggest compliment I received from my vet was when he said he wished all his patients were as well behaved and friendly as my dogs were. He said he is never worried or afraid of working on my guy and gal because they were so well tempered. And they’ve never exhibited any concern about going to, or being at, the vets.
My pit bull saved me from an attack on the jogging trail. A skeezy looking guy approached me and she lunged at him and would have torn him to shreds if I wasn’t strong enough to hold her leash. I have only seen her this way that one time. To everyone else she is a happy friendly dog.
So your dog attacked a guy who hadn’t done anything wrong? Is that a good thing to you?
@Dubiaku Read the article, and stop posting about fuc***g cats with each post. Glad your “smart, hop-in-the-suitcase-rather-than-gimme-a-sad-look” cats are so fulfilling for you. This person is referring to the fact that – in the article – they discuss dogs that sense when someone is about to do something bad. As the poster statrd, nothing happened to dog or human. Watch dogs are watch dogs. How is your watch cat doing at protecting you? Stop posting on every other post about your damn cat on a dog-specific article. That is all.
Couldn’t have said it better myself, @Arya!!!
Wow. Testerone tumor, perhaps? I’m sorry that you are angry at the world. You must be very lonely.
why are you taking your issues out on poor dubiaku? your therapist must really $uck…. some of us love dogs AND cats – people not so much….
Because dubiaku posts nasty comparisons of his favoritism over his cat obsessed rants on dog blogs. Dude’s a loser.
Your cat would run as fast as possible from antone intending to assault you and I wouldn’t blame him. Your obsession with your cat borders on an illness.
And if she misreads someone?…..
Dogs and cats sense “intent”. You dog knew what the mans intentions were and reacted.
we had 2 Irish Setters, they broke all the rules — they were extremely energetic, fun, sociable and just big rascals — mingling with guest when we had parties and sometimes quiet when we demanded it . However they preferred mass chaos to quiet times! They also liked the food and cocktails — as we discovered when guests would say but I thought I had a plate full of…or but I thought I had a glass full… they also stole solid big things (eyeglasses, books, shoes) and we often had to retrieve things from their dog house –they were trained… Read more »
Good article, but I was hoping to read something about dogs knowing when you are about to come home. Myself and lots of people I know have noticed this about their animals. That’s one of their spookier abilities it seems.
My two black labs are like velcro stick to me every where i go . But when the misses moves they don’t even batter an ey lid 🙂
Another couple of good ol’dogs!!!!
My cat can tell when I’m leaving by subtle things like my showering or changing my clothes. I filmed him once and after I left, he went around the house crying (furniture is no fun – it just sits there and cats like living things better, and if he didn’t see me leave, he wonders where I am). So, I started telling him, using the same words every time, when I was leaving. I also bring him a snack when returning. He usually goes to sleep after I tell him, but he no longer cries or wanders around the house… Read more »
Cats are “highly social animals”, too, though in a different way. Going out at night, you’ll find packs of cats gathered, but not close together like dogs. The may spread out over a huge area. But they are together. Cats also have many “mirror neurons” like humans that create a facsimile of the other cat’s or animal’s thoughts to understand them better. Since cats socialize in ways different from humans and dogs, people assume that they don’t. Different cat species certainly vary, but housecats certainly have many social abilities. They even negotiate schedules with neighboring cats so that they are… Read more »
Guess there aren’t any cat blogs out there!
Again with the cat posts. Go somewhere else to glorify your kitten.
My daughter is loud and bostrious. She does not live with me but my rat terrier adores her. When she is over, he will always respond to her commands despite the caretakers objections. Why is this?
The dog likes her.
#6 is right on. Years ago, I had a fling with a neighbor. Every time we’d get in bed and start having sex her little dog would jump up on the bed and try to get between us. I put it outside the bedroom and closed the door but the dog just sat there yapping away.
Needless to say I found greener pastures in short order!
Nah, he was feeding the dog sirloin and vanilla ice cream when you weren’t around.
Not my small dog…an 8lb. chihuahua. If he senses I’m in fear of someone while walking he springs into action. Though he’s small, he’s loyal and tries to be the protector and only does so if he senses something’s wrong. He grabbed a stranger’s pants leg with his bite once and the man said lady please get your dog. Of course I did cause my lil guy could have been hurt, but the man went in opposite direction afterwards. My lil guy drew attention the creep didn’t want. Good Dog!
Your little Ruger is so cute!! I see he likes to play X BOX!!
I have a 8 month old rottweiler lab mix, she is the friendliest puppy ever, and loves the kitten we have. Since the moment I saw her me and my boyfriend knew we couldn’t not keep her. I’m so happy we did, she can learn any trick so fast, and really has the best personality out of every dog that I’ve met. She feels like my child, and she’s spoiled but it’s well deserved! She is glued to me & gets upset every time I leave for work, and I always look forward to the happy welcome I get from… Read more »
I love my dog so much. He knows when I’m upset. Today, actually, I had a panic attack and came home really upset and crying. He licked my face and sat with me.
← Ricky Jr. son of Ricky is an expert trout spotter just like his dad was. I tell him to “find one” in the local streams and he will hunker down and stalk the bank. When he sees a rainbow or brown he will lay down and stare at it. If it moves up or down the stream he will belly crawl to keep eyes on.
I saw an episode of Huell Howser where the farmer’s field dog loved avocados.
I agree wholeheartedly
My husband and I rescued a 10 week old black lab/golden lab/chow mix we named Buddy Bear AKA Bubbawubba four years ago when my 9yr old Collie/German Shepherd mix, Mystical died unexpectedly from a cancer that ruptured her spleen. She was my baby girl and I loved her so very much, and of course her “sister”, our other dog and I were completely broken when she passed away. I do believe that adopting Bubba was the best thing we did not only for me but for Ginger Marie, who actually cried — tears and everything just like I did. Bubba… Read more »
I’ve suffered from a brain disease all my life. It’s under control though I require bi-yearly MRIs. We bought our son a puppy who is now a year and a half old. Recently the pup,Jake, has been staying on my heels and when I have a flare up he actually comes over and lays across my head with his entire body. Within a few minutes the pain begins to subside. There is no moving him. Not even when my husband offers his favorite treat. We knew he was an awesome dog right away but this is too much. He truly… Read more »
My dog is my best friend <3
Cat obsessed trolls comparing their cats to dogs on dog blogs = no wonder you’re called crazy cat people. Isn’t there a site for how great cats are for you or no? Cats are cute but on the whole nowhere as bonded to their owners as dogs. You never read about cats sniffing out illnesses or saving another cat from traffic or defending their owners. Nuff said. Dogs are pure love, they feel, they love in return, understand when they or you have done wrong and always forgive without you having to ask for their forgiveness. Love.
I Lost my beloved paw-pall to old age & Arthritis 10 years ago on October 15th 2005, I lived in lodgings with the family who owned her but she was my soul-mate and true love for 5 wonderful years from 2001-2005 when she was sadly put to sleep at the age of 13 & 1/4, She was a beautiful golden Labrador retriever named Freeway she was named after the dog in Heart to Heart a 1970’s soap opera. She was true friend so yes I understand every thing that’s mentioned on this website about dogs, maybe it’s time I got… Read more »
Pretty cool list, though a lot of them are the same thing, just worded differently.
Ah, the joys of your pitbull smelling your fear-adrenaline and leaping at a possible offender with great gnashing of teeth and the intent to rip their vocal cords out. Sometimes my old amstaff pal (may she play forever in the great garden beyond!) got it right… Sometimes she got it horribly wrong, like that time we were hiking on a countryside trail and crossed our ways with a guy who was stretching his arms while holding a huge knife he’d been using to cut sunflowers. Thank the Maker we taught her to stop on command. That’s possibly the only thing… Read more »
That’s so amazing n god bless u glad ur OK. Pi dogs are our babies
You think Dogs never make it to Heaven? I tell you they make it before anyone of us! I forget who wrote that but I liked it. I just buried my mastiff June 30 2015. It was torture to watch him get old then hurt his leg. I tried to help him live longer and he did make it almost a full year but when infection set into his leg I knew. Hercules. He never drooled very much. He was my best dog. Don’t think I will get another. Hurts too much to watch them go and you get too… Read more »
when i put my first dog down i would lie on the couch with my headphones and listen to secret garden. it really helped soothe me.
This is Laky, our first baby since we are together in the same roof. He’s now 1 year old and 3 months. My problem with him is, he is too sensitive, he gets angry when we kissed his forehead. Is it a sign that he is not feeling well?
My little dog his sad if I am sad , will not move from my side if I am upset just wants to lick my hand and whimper
I must comment on #3…….over the past 15 years , I have had 2 dogs, a basset that laid in my lap and seemed to sense “issues with my health ( after he started doing this I went for a check up after almost fainting…..diabetes was found)…..the second dog, a border collie mix……well …….she jumped into my arms at 5 months old at the pound…..but her specialty wasn’t me…..after my roommate had some health issues…one day ,for no reason she walked up to him, sniffed his hand and laid down by his chair……in this case ….later on cancer was found.… Read more »
I’m so sorry to hear tht. I know dos ste smatt. Inr had been s great companion. But I’m noticing some things. I’m down in my heath with siatic nerve but I’ve been having to under go some tests. N dshes been lickinh me a lot. But one she started recentlybin the moit. She never done before but she knows also I’m depressed. Than I find these articles. Now I no get to throat doctor:(
Amazing article I even printed out a copy for myself to have so I can learn to:)
now i know what my dog can sense, i just got a dog that my mothers friend gave to use the dog is such a sweet animal and he does change his behavior when he senses that someones is sad
I have known this for years. They are truly a gift to mankind. I thank God for them. There was a dark time in my life, and dogs were truly my best friend.
i wish i had a dog… this is all for a project