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Dogs are truly fascinating creatures—there’s much reason and truth behind the saying that they are man’s best friend. They act in ways that make us wonder sometimes if they think and feel just the way that we humans do. Here are some statements and claims from experts that may help us understand the mind of our pets better:

Dogs experience jealousy. Apart from fear, sadness, and happiness, one of the most marked emotions that dogs apparently experience is jealousy. This may be over another dog or another human. When they feel that they are not given appropriate rewards or just plain attention, they may show signs of agitation and avoid contact. Thus, as a pet owner, it is important for us to show our pets that we care for them. Simple things like gifting a collar for your dog, celebrating his birthday, or bringing him out for a walk are valuable gestures that make him feel loved and wanted.

Dogs can dream. If you notice your dog twitching, moaning, or rolling his eyes during sleep, chances are he is dreaming. There are a number of studies in dog psychology that have observed and concluded this. A basis for this finding is that dogs and humans share the same sleep pattern, and it has been found that their brain activity while asleep greatly resembles ours as well. Just like in humans, researchers believe that dogs also dream about situations or events in their lives such as playing or seeing an old friend.

Dogs talk through their barking. Naturally, just as we humans talk and express our emotions through varied levels of our voice, we instinctively know that a dog’s bark is his way of talking. Experts say this is actually true. In the same way that babies are aware that their crying is a way of getting the attention of their parents, dogs understand that their barking is an effective method of communicating to humans. You may have experienced this yourself when your dog barks and points to an empty food or water container—he is letting you know that he is hungry or thirsty.

Dogs understand human voice. Conversely, dogs are also aware of our voices and interpret various cues from the way that we talk. Your pet definitely knows when you are angry by the high pitch of your voice, and they react with fear or apprehension. On the other hand, he knows that you are playful when you speak in a loving and cooing tone, and they respond with happiness and energy. This is the reason why in dog training, some experts claim that you don’t need an actual treat to reinforce positive behavior in dogs—just a positive, reassuring tone will do.

Dogs express themselves through tail-wagging. Many people instinctively believe that a dog wagging his tail is a positive sign of friendliness or enthusiasm. However, there is more than meets the eye to your dog’s tail-wagging. It is said that when a dog wags his tail to the right, it is a sign of happiness. However, if he wags his tail to the left, it is actually a sign of fear. If a dog’s tail is tucked low under hind behind, it is also a sign of fear or nervousness. Rapid and sharp tail wags, which are caused by tense muscles, actually signal aggression and may escalate to an attack.

Dogs do not have a concept of guilt or revenge. Part of our fascination with dogs is ascribing to them many other human traits and emotions such as guilt. When you see your pet standing in the middle of a mess that he had just made, you notice his sad eyes and you understandably interpret this as remorse. However, experts say that this is not the case as dogs are not likely capable of such complex thinking. The sadness that you see in your dog’s eyes is actually a realization that you are unhappy and he is about to get punished. The same is true for the idea of revenge—often, you may think that the bad behavior of your pet while you are away is somewhat an act of retaliation. But the truth is, he simply could not help himself and he was just acting like the dog he is.

Your dog and you

We may never get to fully understand how dogs truly think, but one thing is for sure is that humans have been and will continue to be enamored by these animals. They undoubtedly possess a level of intelligence that we can all relate to and interact with in our own unique ways. All the more, they deserve our love, attention, and continuous understanding.

Emily

Hi there! I am Emily Evert, the owner of Emily Reviews. I am 28 and live in a small town in Michigan with my boyfriend Ryan and our two pugs. I have a large family and I adore my nieces and nephews. I love reading memoirs, and learning about child development and psychology. I love watching The Game of Thrones, Teen Mom, Sister Wives and Veep. I like listening to Jason Isbell, John Prine, and other alt-country or Americana music. I created Emily Reviews as a creative outlet to share my life and the products that I love with others.

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