Does Your Dog Really Understand You? Here's How These Canines Process Emotions, Speech, Non-Verbal Cues

Based on research, dogs can process the emotion and information behind human commands.

Dogs Can Understand You

Dogs can understand more than what people realize. In fact, according to a 2001 study, the average family pet can learn up to 90 human phrases or words. Smarter dogs can also learn up to 200 of these.

However, this raises questions as dogs do not have any language. Researchers have been trying to know how dogs pick up on communication for years. Studies have also been bringing humanity closer to unraveling answers.

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Speech and Emotions

Recently, scientists have begun using scanning machines, such as MRI, to delve deeper into the canine brain and look past behavior. In 2020 research, researchers trained 12 pet dogs to lie within an MRI's test chamber. The researchers then played a recording of neutral words or of a trainer praising the dog. The tone varied between neutral and enthusiastic deliveries.

The researchers discovered that as the dog listened to the humans' words, several brain parts lit up. Cortical parts were activated, where the dogs processed the information that the words inherently contained. However, it appeared that certain subcortical parts went online first. This was where the dogs processed the emotional data in the trainer's tone.

There have also been other studies that looked into what happens if a word hears an unfamiliar word or when the dogs see pictures of strangers or their caregivers. The brain regions that handle reward, attachment, and emotions were activated when the dogs saw photos of people.

Non-Verbal Signals

Aside from how dogs were seen to process emotions and information behind human words, studies have also revealed that dogs are great at picking up non-verbal signals. Research has demonstrated that dogs can pick up body language and facial expressions.

However, it is essential to note that the extent to which a dog can pick up such cues depends on how humans give them. More significant and more obvious gestures can easily catch the attention of dogs. Animal behaviorist Monique Udell from Oregon State University also shared that this could depend on who is speaking to the dog. Compared to when a stranger says someone, the dog is familiar with it, which could make it easier for the dog to pick up subtle signals.

Udell also explains that not all dogs respond to specific gestures. Each dog is different, and this is something that research shows.

When it comes to a dog's sensitivity to gestures, genetics could also play a role. A 2021 study discovered that puppies as young as eight weeks of age and with minimal human exposure can still understand pointing gestures. However, researchers also observed that when looking at individual differences between puppies, genetic factors accounted for almost half of the difference in their capacity to understand what pointing means. Further research could aid scientists in understanding why some dog breeds have higher or lesser suitability in learning commands.