What Dogs Really Think, Feel, and Need

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I recently read a special edition of PawPrint magazine called "Dogs: A New Understanding." After reading through the numerous essays organized in three main chapters called "New Frontiers" that deal with the nature of canine minds, lifespan, and the genetics of behavior; "Explaining Behaviors" focusing on why dogs do what they do; and "Building Better Habits" referring to the importance of using positive reinforcement, busting boredom, and offering plenty of playtime; I thought it worthwhile to share some of the important information about how to demystify and decode dogs that are contained in this valuable collection. What I really liked about the essays and found very refreshing is that no one questioned if dogs really are sentient and highly emotional beings, for it's clear they surely are. There's no reason to debate the skeptics because there's so much work to do to improve dogs' well-being using what we already know and have known for many decades.

I'm very impressed on how it covers up-to-date research, offers on-the-ground observations, and suggests practical advice for how to give a dog what they need, keeping in mind that dogs still have wolf genes and wolf engrams in their brains and that each and every dog is a unique individual with their own idiosyncratic and often quirky personality that determines what they themselves need to have the best life possible.¹

Here are some take-home messages that are useful for giving dogs enriched lives in an increasingly human-oriented world.

• Breed isn't everything: Breed and the genetic make-up of mutts matter, but not nearly as much as many claim. Breeds don't have personalities but individuals do.
• New fMRI research is helping us learn more about what's happening in dogs' brains when performing different cognitive tasks and when experiencing different social situations. If a dog doesn't want to partake in these experiments, they can choose not to, and their wishes are honored. The importance of these neuroimaging studies is not only that they offer a picture of a dog's mind but also provide "hard" data that are more convincing to some skeptics than are observational studies.²
• Dogs are highly sophisticated communicators. They read our faces, movements, and odors very well so it's not necessarily surprising that they know what we're thinking and feeling, sometimes when we don't.
• Enriching a dog's life is critical. This was stressed in various essays, and when a person doesn't have the time, energy, and physical ability to do so, there are high-tech products such as automatic ball-launchers and battery-operated toys that fill the bill and also give a dog physical exercise, something that many dogs lack.
• I didn't realize that 20 percent of dogs 11 years and older suffer some sort of doggy dementia. This does not mean that a compromised dog can't have a rich life, but it does mean that we need to pay attention to the signs that a dog is showing cognitive decline, which are often more difficult to detect than physical decline.
• Many, if not most, dogs like to play by themselves, with canine companions, and with humans. If you have a playful dog, let them play to their heart's content and then some. They not only can develop social skills and get physical exercise, but it's also fun. Having fun is one reason that various behavior patterns are retained in the behavioral repertoire of dogs and other animals, and more and more researchers realize that having fun can be a reason why dogs play and do other things that are rewarding and pleasurable. Some people I know quip that researchers are finally learning what every dog guardian knows: that playing and hanging out with canine buddies is fun.
• Related to playtime, many dogs love to zoom around frantically, and I was pleased to see a discussion of zoomies in this issue. They do so because it’s tons of fun, not because they're crazy.
• I've often written about what I call the "5-C's"—choice, consent, context, consistency, and calmness—that work for all dogs, and I was pleased to read about the "consent to pet" test that stresses that if you want to touch a dog, first get their permission to do so and only do it if they agree.
• It's important to know why a dog is barking, and what we call "excessive" barking might not be excessive to a dog who is stressed, anxious, or afraid.
• Why do dogs dig and bury bones and other goodies? Wild canids are called "scatter hoarders" who bury food in their home range, so it's natural for some dogs to do so. A dog might be burying food items here and there for later consumption or because they enjoy doing it. Wild red foxes do this, and after they remove food from a cache, they pee on the spot and don't go back to an empty cabinet. We don't know if dogs do this sort of bookkeeping.³ Dogs might also dig a hole simply to make a nice bed.
• An important summary of how to have a happy dog is always to use positive reinforcement, bust boredom, make them feel safe and trustful, and offer plenty of playtime and love.
• Reactivity doesn't necessarily mean aggression. This is an incredibly important take-home message When a dog is reactive, it's best to remove them from the situation that triggers this behavior and calm them by talking gently to them with a happy voice and, if it works, offer a treat. The important point is that reactivity has a cause, and we must pay attention to what triggers this sort of unwanted behavior and have a plan in place to do so when the situations arises.

Among the other topics that are discussed are why dogs like squeaky toys; why some dogs are afraid of thunder and what can be done to help them along by being proactive and having a plan and not fussing over them during a storm; why dogs jump on people without meaning any harm; and busting boredom.

Where to from here: It's not all about us

To give a dog the best life and as many of the Ten Freedoms they can enjoy, it's essential to become fluent in dog, not be afraid to spoil them, and learn about and respect every dog for their individuality. We know a lot about dog behavior, cognition, and emotions, and there's also a lot we don't know.

Among the many reasons why I really enjoyed reading "Dogs: A New Understanding" is that it's a goldmine for future research. I learned a lot, and it reinforced my feelings that the more I know, the more I say I don't know all there is to know.

It's not difficult to give a dog a great life when we pay careful attention to what we're asking of them, what they're asking of us, and we carefully listen to them and realize that when we and they agree with what's happening, it's a win-win for all. What could be more rewarding and fun?

Please also see: When Dogs Hump, Sniff, and Chew, They're Just Being Dogs; How Much Should I Walk My Dog and Exercise Them? Do Dogs Understand When They're Dying?

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