What do dogs think about? This question has baffled humans for as long as dogs and people have inhabited the earth together. This post will explore some of the research that has been done on this very interesting topic.
Dog Cognition Research
Alexandra Horowitz, a Professor of Psychology, heads the Dog Cognition Lab in New York City. The lab conducts research into dog cognition which helps dog owners, veterinarians, trainers, and animal behaviorists learn how a dog’s mind works. Dr. Horowitz explains the attention dogs lavish on their owners, and states they somewhat compare to anthropologists. Dogs are observant and notice our movements and habits. They can distinguish between our movements if we’re going into the kitchen or preparing to leave the house.
Dog’s Comprehension Levels
Dogs have the ability to understand the meaning of certain words if they hear them frequently. In one long-term study with a Border Collie, she was able to comprehend more than 1000 words because she heard them so often. Dr. Horowitz explains some of the theories about the way dogs bark, howl, or whine that go back to their ancestors the wolves. The belief is that when dogs were being domesticated, dogs that barked more may have been chosen as guard dogs because they alerted their owners to disturbances. As dogs became domesticated and started making other noises like yapping and whimpering, they may have been trying to mimic human speech.
Brain Structure of Dogs and Humans
Neuroscientists have spent years conducting research into canine behavior including their body language, interests, emotions, thoughts, and dreams. The brain structure of dogs and humans is the same. Dogs and people experience the same chemical and hormonal changes. Research indicates that since dogs have oxytocin, the hormone that produces the emotions of affection and love, it seems that they have emotions that compliment those of humans. When a dog is between four and six months old, they’ve fully developed their emotional range. Dogs don’t have the ability to develop more complex emotional patterns the way humans do.
Dogs Brain Waves
Dog owners often notice their dogs twitching, whimpering, or even growling during sleep, leaving them to believe their dogs are dreaming. The electrical activity in a dog’s brain is similar to a person;s when they dream and dogs brain wave patterns are like those of a human, so it’s likely that they do dream. People act out activities in dreams, and there’s evidence to suggest that dogs do the same. Scientists have done research that shows that dogs move around in their sleep when they start to dream and may act out activities they do when they’re awake. All of this research leads us to ask “what do dogs think about?”
Brain Scan Imaging
The technology behind scanning the brain has evolved, so questions such as what do dogs think about fascinates scientists to the extent that they’re studying the canine brain to find out. Research shows that dogs depend on us for everything including protection, love, and affection more than they do other dogs.
Emory University Research
Animal scientists at Emory University want the answers to what do dogs think about as much as dog lovers do. In studies at the University, dogs were trained to lie down in an MRI machine that uses imaging. The neural responses of the dogs were measured by other dogs and people, both known and unknown. The caudate nucleus, which can be compared to a reward, was activated the most when the dogs picked up on the scent of their owners. The scientists concluded that dogs don’t pick up randomly on changes in their owner’s moods. Their brains are wired to sense changes.
Canine Psychology
For years scientists that studied animal behavior were focused on what animals did, but not on what they felt and if they had emotions similar to humans. Animal welfare groups made us more aware of dogs and their feelings. Numerous studies indicate that dogs feel about half the emotions that people do, and dog owners sometimes misinterpret their do’s body language.
Basic and Reflective Emotions
Emotions are basic, which is what dogs are capable of feeling, and reflective, which are complex. If a dog owner says their dog looks guilty when they’ve done something wrong, a dog isn’t capable of that kind of emotion. They’re fearful because they anticipate some form of punishment. So what do dogs think about their owners? Dogs are very receptive to their owner’s body language and voice patterns. Scientists have determined that dogs can pick up on the body language of humans better than we’re able to. When learning new skills, dogs are more flexible than people. They’re very fast learners and although they may not know how we feel about them, what they think about is their love and affection for us.
At Animal Hearted, we love dogs and offer apparel and gifts for dog lovers, and we help to save shelter and rescue pets.