Your dog knows when you are upset. Dogs have very keen senses. They are capable of noticing different scenarios like trouble, disaster, or even a basic change in their environment.
This is not the only thing that dogs can detect. A recent study showed that dogs can pick up on their owner’s feelings. They can tell whenever their owners feel down, sad, upset, and in need of help.
Yes, your dog knows when you are upset. It is not just your imagination.
seeking comfort from a friend
The studies’ findings, released in the first quarter of 2018, suggest that dogs are almost always capable of identifying when their owners are anxious. Dogs can sense a human’s feelings even without their expressing it loudly or boldly.
The Proof
To prove this claim, the researchers tested 34 dogs of different breeds, sizes, and origins into a laboratory. These dogs were always able to see their owners.
The dog owners were told to wait calmly inside an area with a transparent glass large enough for their dogs to see them clearly. They were then told to exclaim ‘Help!’ every 15 seconds in both distressed and normal tones.
In another scenario, the owners were tasked to be distressed. The researchers made them sing the famed ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star’ nursery rhyme during their shout for help. By comparison, in the second scenario, they were told to act sad and the owners were instructed to cry.
Captured on Video
The researchers captured this footage in a video. The dogs become anxious in each of the two scenarios. The dogs’ heart rates increased. An elevated pulse is an indication of being stressed.
The dogs reacted quite dramatically
More dramatically, the dogs tried to break through the glass door to check out the problem. The researchers explained this phenomenon.
They think that, based on our daily interaction with our dogs, they already know the ways we respond to various situations. Dogs can tell when their human is stressed out or sad in comparison with being calm.
How do they know how we are feeling?
Although our dogs may want to help us, they often don’t know how to express their feelings. They resort to barking and rushing to be at our side.
Even without having a study to prove it, anyone who has ever had a dog knows how much comfort they bring. For example, our dogs look up at us with compassion in their eyes when they see us crying.
Dogs are empathetic animals and are sensitive to our emotions. They observe our body language, facial expressions, smell, and tone of voice.
They may or may not know exactly what is causing our problems but they can tell we feel something. More importantly, they care. They notice and respond to our emotions.
Are Dogs Really Helpful?
Dogs are often more comforting even than other humans. People can be judgmental. Language and individual expectations complicate human relationships.
Dogs are loving, loyal, and comforting without judgment. They also listen to us without comment. Sometimes, simply having a loving companion sit with you in times of distress is all we need.
Professional comfort therapy dogs sit quietly with people. They offer silent, non-judgmental support. Some dogs do so more naturally than others. According to WebMD, dogs make us happy and less stressed.
A Man and His Best Friend
In closing,
I already knew that dogs have made my life better and bet you did, too. Can you think of a particular incident in which your dog helped you get through a tough time?
Photo credit to Gene Wilson and Queenie
Video Credit to Mashable.
