Does my dog understand when I cry? Tips and Tricks

The Science of Dogs Sensing Crying

Does my dog understand when I cry?

So what is it that your dog is sensing when you are crying? Is it what they see, or what they hear? Actually, psychological research has indicated that it is a combination of both auditory and visual sensory information that allows a dog to not only sense that someone is crying, but make a connection that this is a negative emotion that requires attending to.

Animal behavior researchers have conducted a variety of studies that have given insight into the psychology behind what it actually is that the dog is sensing when someone is crying. One study, in particular, found that dogs can determine if a person is happy by just looking at their faces, proving dogs have the ability to recognize facial cues.

Does this mean, though, that man’s best friend has the capability of actual emotional perception or is it just recognition coupled with familiarity that causes your dog to react? One research study conducted by University of Lincoln’s School of Psychology found that dogs truly recognize emotions in humans and other dogs as a result of combining what they hear and see when a human is crying.

The capability of a dog to do this would require the animal to have some form of a system for categorizing and, therefore, recognizing emotions, meaning that they truly can “sense” crying and distinguish it from other sounds made by humans.

Some would argue that the dogs only react to crying because they express curiosity in the situation, but further scientific research has disproved that theory. For example, studies have found that dogs are more likely to approach individuals when they are crying, versus making loud or humming noises, implying that it is not curiosity alone that causes the dog to act in this way.

This demonstrates that when a human cries, it carries more meaning to the dog compared to just hearing noises alone, and, therefore, it is more than just a conditioned response or because of curiosity.

Signs a Dog Senses You’re Crying

Have you ever noticed your dog knows just what do to when you are crying? Those signs you see exhibited in your dog, are probably the same common signs seen in all dogs when they witness a human in teary distress. For example, the most common sign you will see when a dog senses that you are crying is that your dog approaches you in what appears to be a comforting, but submissive manner (e.g., head bowed).

Many dogs will also begin to nuzzle or nudge the crying person, or they may lay their head on the persons lap. Less showy dogs may simply sit or lay down at the distressed persons side.

Dogs are also known to mimic emotions in humans, so your pooch might begin to whimper or cry if they see and hear you doing so. Their eyes may be wide, and it is likely that their ears are down.

These are some signs you may notice if your dog is sensing that you are crying:

Some other signs to watch for include:

  • Your Dog Mimicking Your Behavior
  • Your Dog Trying To Comfort You
  • Nuzzling Or Nudging You
  • Does my dog understand when I cry?

    Even though it has been proven that dogs can and do respond to crying, science and philosophy have not always supported this notion. In fact, it was not until recent scientific research, with a focus on behavioral psychology in animals, that this ability was recognized and validated. Before that time, however, our understanding of our dear animal friends was far less.

    As early as the 1600s, the time of the French philosopher Renee Descartes, dogs have been misunderstood and underestimated. According to Descartes, it is the soul that gives humans consciousness, which is defined as the state of being aware of ones surroundings.

    Unfortunately, Descartes believed that dogs, like all animals, had no soul, but were machine-like and therefore unable to have conscious thoughts, feelings, or understandings. If you have a dog, you are most likely shocked by this idea that your beloved animal is unaware of you and its surroundings, as you know how responsive, caring and loving they can be to your every need.

    Thanks to science though, we now know Descartes could not have been more wrong.

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    “Dogs have been by the side of humans for tens of thousands of years and theyve learned to read our social cues… Dog owners can tell that their dogs sense their feelings. Our findings reinforce that idea, and show that, like Lassie, dogs who know their people are in trouble might spring into action.”

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