I'm sure you know dogs have a sixth sense when it comes to humans. When you are feeling down, your dog can often act as a confidant. They listen better than we do, respond appropriately to your emotions, and genuinely care about your feelings. To your dog, you are family. It is as simple as that.
Understanding how your dog perceives you can help you relate better to your pet. Here are 3 things your dog can sense about you.
1. You can't Hide Your Sadness From Your Dog
Think about a time when you were sad, did you notice your dog became more subdued than usual. Sometimes they even lose interest in their toys and refuse to eat. After observing your mood, after a while, he may come over and place his head in your lap. Some even try to lick away the tears. Why you may ask. A dog's owner is their entire world, so you being sad effects them as well.
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 have a caring spirit rather it's for their owner or a complete stranger.
2. Dogs can Detect Diseases You May Have
Various studies have confirmed that dogs have the ability to detect certain diseases such as cancer. Some dogs have been trained to warn individuals who suffer from seizures when an episode is about to take place.
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.
If your dog has been paying particular attention to a certain area of your body, you may want to visit your doctor to make sure everything is okay.
3. Your Dog Knows About His Vet Appointment
How in the world is a dog able to differentiate a trip to the park vs a trip to the vet? I've been wondering the same thing. It's like as soon as you load him into the car to head to the vet, he already knows what is going on.
When you get to the vets, most dogs develop a set of anti-lock brakes that makes them impossible to move.
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.
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. This makes the trip and visit a lot more comfortable.
We would love for you to add some things you've noticed your dog has sensed about you.