your dog feels you !

MurielB Mar 5 Avr - 21:55

When our two labrador dogs were still alive, we were able to see for ourselves that they could feel us. They knew when we were happy or sad. Some people dismiss that belief. They don't take inter- species mind-reading for granted. A new study demonstrates that dogs can interpretate facial expressions and voice characteristics to know what is their master's state of mind. That study shows that only dogs appear to be unique in sharing with humans the ability to transcend species boundaries in reading emotions.

According to the LA Times, researchers presented 17 socialized adult dogs with combinations of human images and sounds. Their goal? To determine which combinations held their attention longest and to understand whether dogs were capable of accurately reading our emotions. On a screen, the dog would see an image of a human conveying either a happy/playful emotion or an angry/aggressive emotion. At the same time, the dog would hear a sound that either matched the emotion shown in the image, a sound that conflicted with it, or a sound that was neutral (static). While the dogs’ processed each image/sound, researchers looked at the length of time that a dog spent focused on an image. They concluded that the length of the dog’s engagement with each image/sound offered insight into whether the dog effectively attached real life, social meaning to the emotion being conveyed. Results showed that when dogs heard a happy/playful or an angry/aggressive human voice, the dogs’ eyes lingered on the correct corresponding image 67% of the time. In addition, dogs did not look at one picture any longer than the other when accompanied by the static. Pretty cool, huh? - See more at: https://sniffandbarkens.com/scientific-proof-that-your-dog-feels-you/#sthash.WLMisMBC.dpuf

Do you share that view-point ?

Remy Sam 9 Avr - 9:57

Indeed, I agree with you. Dogs can be very subtle in understanding your state of mind. So you can play with them. They make the difference when you joke or not, often better than human beings do.

MurielB Sam 9 Avr - 21:13

Remy what is nice with dogs is that when you punish them they straightway forget and love you as if nothing had happened. Do you know that Patrick has bought two hens to "La Voute". They love him better than me. Of course he is the one who feeds them. They are grateful for what they have been given !