Dog is observed as one of the most popular choice while selecting a pet by people. It is believed that they develop a better rapo with humans than any other animal. They are playful, active, interacting and even witty kind of animals at times. But there is this very astonishing thing observed in them. Have you ever noticed, that dogs can read you? How can they know when we are sad or happy? Or how can they sense our emotions? Well, these are not just assumptions made. There have been loads of research and studies that prove these assumptions as facts.
Dogs as humans share similar social atmosphere. They have the same growing up conditions, family-knits, and other factors that make them familiar with human expressions and moods. So they can sense when there is happiness or when his/her owner is not in the right mood. But don’t you think it’s quite obvious when we analyze all this? I mean c’mon what else job does a dog has other than watching his/her owner throughout its lifetime? Even an infant at its early age cannot speak. But he/she is still able to communicate with his parents or other familiar people around them. Same is the case with dogs. They are good observers. They can see, feel, sense and smell things around them.
Dogs’ brain is one fourth size than that of humans. But in that, about 40% functions for smelling. They have a very strong smelling sense. This feature of theirs also adds up as a help to him in sensing its human companion’s emotions. This is also one way how a dog detects illness. When a person is sick, the metabolism in its body changes and diverse kind of chemicals appear on its body. A dog can smell this. Even rightly said that ‘dog can smell fear’, is true. When we are scared or anxious we start to perspire lightly. This may not be visible or you may not feel it. But a dog does smell it. Not only this, but studies have even confirmed that dogs are even capable of sensing cancers. They can tell if they see any early signs of cancer.
Apart from his/her strong nose, a dog can even tell whether hi owner is joyful or gloomy from its facial expression and body language. It should not come as a surprise. Because we human beings do 90% of our communication non-verbally. Our movements and postures speak a lot for us. For example when we held our head high we are proud of something we have done. Or if your heads’ laying low it probably means you are sulking. A dog is a good onlooker. Much better than what we as humans can. They can read the whole story behind your single expression. Not necessary for him/her being around you for a long time. This type of reading helps the dog recognize whether its owner is up for a game? Or, if he can throw the dogs’ favourite toy for the dog? It helps in dog’s grooming with the owner.
Well, this was all the smelling and vision senses that help a dog understand us. But that’s not it. A dog has ears more responsive than us. They can hear frequencies of wide range. Have you ever wondered how your dog is always waiting at the door before your arrival? This is probably how. Their radar ears pick up the very low sounds of cars braking, or your keys jingling, even your footsteps. For you these sound maybe almost impossible to hear. But a dog can hear them from a distance. Adding to this your dog even can scan the underlying meaning of your words. The technique is not just your facial expressions or body language. But even the fluctuations that occur in your voice tones. That helps them decide a lot in your behaviour. He can tell when you are happy, or furious, or sulking etc. To a smart dog, a sound is worth a thousand words.
So basically this is no rocket science! These are sheer facts that come to us a little late. But as said ‘it is better late than never.’ One should not be amazed that dogs can sense our emotions. It is some supremacy they are gifted with to cope up with the world. They can’t talk but they definitely can communicate. God never gives us everything spoon-feeded. But that doesn’t mean he leave us on our own. He always has some alternative left to help us out. We need to find it and adapt accordingly.
Dog is basically a very mysterious animal. So there is always a surprise you can come across while petting him. He is a best friend and a life-long companion one can get, if nurtured properly. So enjoy the experience and make the most of it.