Dogs are always attentive. They live in the present moment and don’t stress about the past or future. They only consider the past if it affects them now, and they only plan for immediate needs. They don’t dwell on things like we do or worry about what might happen. Because of this, they’re always aware of their surroundings. They’ll gaze at their owners for long periods of time and notice every little detail. They can hear the slightest rustle of clothing or sense any change in energy or mood.
They even know when you’re about to get up and feed them dinner, sometimes even before you realize it yourself. They spend a lot of time trying to anticipate your next move. In the wild, canines behave the same way. Their heightened instincts help them hunt in packs. They observe their prey and predict the actions of their hunting partners. Unfortunately, us humans seem to have lost that ability.
A study published in the Learning and Behavior Journal proved that dogs possess the remarkable ability to perceive and interpret human intentions. In the study, a group of domesticated wolves and a group of dogs were presented with the opportunity to request food. They were given the choice to approach either an attentive person or someone who appeared disinterested.
Both the wolves and dogs demonstrated the capacity to differentiate between the two and consistently opted for the person who displayed attentiveness. Furthermore, the researchers observed that both wolves and dogs exhibited heightened intuition when interacting with individuals they were familiar with, as opposed to unfamiliar individuals. This suggests that the bond between the animals and their human counterparts enhanced their ability to comprehend the motives of the latter.
An enjoyable activity to test your dog’s mind-reading skills involves standing in front of her while discreetly issuing a command that deviates from your usual instructions. For instance, if you typically instruct her to sit before offering a treat, try mentally commanding her to perform a different action, such as “down” or “shake.” Allow her a moment to respond.
Alternatively, you can silently direct your dog to come to you. Ensure that your intention for the dog to approach you is clear, and then patiently wait to observe her reaction. It is important to note that some dogs may possess a greater level of intuition than others, so it is advisable to give them ample time to process the command.