What do dogs think about?

Every dog ​​owner has probably wondered at least once: what do dogs think, if any, and whether their pets are capable of logical thought? In this article, we'll delve deeper into the canine mind and explore how and what dogs think.

The dog's brain, its structure and features

The brain is the main organ of the central nervous system, controlling all vital functions in the animal’s body and responsible for thought processes and emotional perception of the world.

Clearly, human thinking and intelligence differ significantly from the consciousness possessed by our pets. These differences are primarily explained by the different structures of the brain:

Moreover, it is the frontal lobes of the brain that are responsible for such important functions as:

• memory;
• ability to think;
• understanding of commands and requirements;
• search for a solution to the problem;
• language perception.

Thought processes and consciousness

By studying how dogs think, scientists have found that the main driving force in the animals' lives is instinct, formed over many generations:

• hunger and thirst;
• self-preservation;
• reproduction (characteristic behavior inherent in both male and female sexes);
• maternal instinct (care for offspring).

Consciousness

Do dogs have consciousness? This question has remained one of the most complex and controversial for many years.

According to the definition, “consciousness” (“self-awareness”) is the ability to feel one’s subjectivity, to identify oneself in relation to the external world, to experience certain emotions in response to what is happening around and to respond to various events.

For over 100 years, scientists have debated whether dogs and other animals have self-awareness. The topic is considered extremely complex, as animals cannot independently describe the worldview in their heads, so studying thoughts and thinking is only possible by observing their reactions to various situations.

Interesting fact! Dogs are unable to recognize themselves in a mirror. This ability is shared by only a few animals: great apes, elephants, magpies, and crows, as well as dolphins and killer whales.

Thinking

At the same time, when interacting closely with their pets, owners often notice thoughts forming in their dog's head. The animal analyzes what it sees and hears, makes sense of it, and reacts accordingly.

The pet clearly knows:

• when we leave for work and when we are going to take him for a walk;
• when a kind and gentle person comes to the house, and when a suspicious one;
• when it’s worth asking the owner for an extra portion of affection or a treat, and when it’s better not to disturb him;
• What actions can the owner praise, and what is prohibited?

During training, pets are able to memorize vocal and gestural interpretations of commands, and some dogs can distinguish commands in different languages. Scientists believe this is the result of centuries of domestication and long periods of close contact between dogs and humans.

For example, many owners are surprised that their pets happily lie on the sofa and watch a movie, without taking their eyes off the TV and even reacting to what is happening on the screen with loud barking.

Scientist Stanley Coren detailed the thoughts that dogs think while watching television in his books "Canine Intelligence" and "How Dogs Think." Observing numerous animals, the scientists found that dogs are interested in films and programs featuring real people and animals, while cartoons with cartoon characters are uninteresting.

Feelings

By studying whether dogs can think and feel, scientists have come to a clear conclusion: dogs are no strangers to simple emotions, such as:

• fear;
• anxiety;
• joy;
• sadness;
• jealousy;
• aggression.

Dogs develop attachments to the people and animals they live with. Dogs also experience sadness when their pets die, and due to the death or prolonged absence of their owner, they can even lose interest in the world around them, falling into a state similar to human depression.

At the same time, dogs are devoid of complex emotional experiences such as love (romantic attachment), contempt, hatred, guilt, shame, or pride. People often attribute certain feelings to their pets that occupy a significant place in the human world.

For example, many male owners are distressed by the thought of castrating their dog, believing that the animal will suffer psychological trauma due to the inability to reproduce. In fact, scientists have long since established that this is not the case. Some behavioral changes in sterile animals are not caused by psychological distress, but by changes in hormonal levels, resulting in:

• interest in the opposite sex decreases;
• the level of physical activity decreases;
• the aggression previously inherent in dogs (as a manifestation of territorial and sexual behavior) disappears.

Dog intelligence

When analyzing whether dogs can think, it is often mentioned that some representatives of the breed are capable of thinking at the level of a 3-5 year old child.

Representatives of certain breeds with high IQ scores are capable of:

• understand not only commands, but also certain phrases of human speech;
• recognize the owner's emotions;
• independently solve certain tasks (follow a trail, search for objects, bring game, control a herd, etc.);
• tolerate the child’s obsession, understanding that they are dealing with a small person;
• use cunning to achieve one's goals;
• make independent decisions that may conflict with the owners' requirements.

Important! Obedience and trainability are not a complete measure of a dog's intelligence!

Scientists distinguish three types of intelligence in dogs:

1. Instinctive – these are abilities that are genetically inherent in representatives of the breed.
2. Worker (obedience intelligence) – is responsible for the dog’s ability to remember commands, perform various tasks and tricks.
3. Adaptive (creative) – is responsible for the dog’s ability to make independent decisions to achieve a set goal.

Different breeds have different levels of intelligence. Moreover, scientists have found that dogs that were punished during training ultimately develop a lower IQ than those that were not punished at all during training.

There's even a test to determine your dog's IQ:

Developing your pet's intellectual abilities is possible and important throughout their life. For tips on how to do this at home, watch this video:

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