By Lucy NotarantonioShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberDo you ever look at your dog and feel like they just get you? You’re not imagining it—many dogs really can pick up on how we’re feeling, and some breeds are especially good at it.
Newsweek spoke to Dr. Liza Cahn, a veterinarian, about the dog breeds that are most likely to read their owner’s emotions.
Unsurprisingly, three out of five have been ranked among the most intelligent breeds by Stanley Coren, Ph.D., professor emeritus in the department of psychology at the University of British Columbia and a renowned dog researcher. They are the border collie, poodle, and golden retriever. Other emotionally intelligent canines include Cavalier King Charles spaniels and Vizslas.
Cahn, who works at Embrace Pet Insurance in Cleveland, Ohio, told Newsweek: “Dogs with high emotional intelligence are ones that can really tune into human emotions. They are better able to recognize what their owners are feeling and are better equipped to react appropriately.”
...How Dogs Pick Up on Feelings
Research has shown that emotional signals are often subtle, and animals may pick them up in different ways. Dogs can tell the difference between emotions shown through things like body language, facial expressions, tone of voice, and even smell. These emotional signals don’t just register with dogs—they can actually change how dogs behave.
Cahn said: “When an owner is happy, dogs exude exuberance, when an owner is sad, they provide a comforting body.”
Why Some Dogs Are Better at It Than Others
Cahn explained why some breeds are better at reading human cues than others.
She said: “Having a high level of intelligence to begin with really helps. It just gives some dog breeds the upper edge in understanding human emotions, but perhaps breeding plays a bigger role.
"Dog breeds that are bred to work closely with humans were carefully chosen for emotionally intelligent traits.
“For example, border collies were bred to herd livestock, so they need to be closely tuned into what their owners wanted and to understand when they were upset or happy with a job well done.
“Dogs that were bred for companionship, similarly, were chosen because they were able to comfort us partially be understanding when we needed it the most."
Can Owners Train Emotional Attunement?
Another study conducted by the Department of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Bari Aldo Moro in southern Italy looked at how dogs interpret emotional sounds like laughing or crying. This study played dogs recordings of six basic human emotions and measured brain side use, heart activity, and behavior.
Dogs used the right brain more for negative sounds (fear, sadness) and the left brain more for positive sounds (happiness). Their heart and behavior changes showed they’re genuinely sensitive to emotional cues in nonverbal human vocalizations. This suggests reading emotions is something that comes naturally to canines.
Cahn said: “Emotional intelligence can be trained to a degree. This comes through consistent positive reinforcement for exhibiting the behaviors that you want. It also comes through socializing a dog to many different situations so that they feel secure and comfortable when confronted with new things.”
References
Albuquerque, Natalia, and Briseida Resende. “Dogs Functionally Respond to and Use Emotional Information from Human Expressions.” Evolutionary Human Sciences, vol. 5, Dec. 2022, p. e2. PubMed Central, https://doi.org/10.1017/ehs.2022.57.
Siniscalchi, M., d’Ingeo, S., Fornelli, S. et al. Lateralized behavior and cardiac activity of dogs in response to human emotional vocalizations. Sci Rep 8, 77 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-18417-4
Request Reprint & LicensingSubmit CorrectionView Editorial & AI Guidelines
Add Newsweek as a preferred source on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search.Recommended For You
Dog BreedsCouple Buy ‘Beagle’ Puppy Off FB Marketplace—Soon Realize Something’s Wrong4 min read
LifeWant a Lazy Lifestyle? Top 5 Dog Breeds That Sleep the Most4 min read
LifeHusky and Pomeranian Have a Puppy—People Can’t Cope With the Mix3 min read
Dog BreedsSomething Different About Woman’s Golden Retriever—DNA Tests Add to Mystery3 min read
Dog BreedsGreat Dane and Corgi Have Puppies, No One Is Ready for Result4 min read
Dog BreedsDog Trainer Reveals 3 Breeds To Avoid if You’re a First Time Owner4 min readRelated Podcasts
Top Stories
NewsUS Halts All Asylum Claims After National Guard Shootings: What To Know2 min read
NewsUncommon Knowledge: On Black Friday, Payday Lenders Are Now Armed With AI5 min read
PoliticsState Department Expands Visa Pause to Afghan Passport Carriers3 min read
NewsMap Shows Where Significant Snow Will Disrupt Post-Thanksgiving Travel3 min read
NewsPolice to Accompany National Guard in DC After Fatal Shooting: Report4 min read
NewsSarah Beckstrom’s Ex-Boyfriend Reacts to DC Shooting: ‘Loved Her to Pieces’4 min readTrending
New York8 Million Inflation Refund Checks Sent Out Ahead of Thanksgiving4 min read
WeatherWinter Storm Warning As 14 inches of Snow To Strike: ‘Delay All Travel’3 min read
AldiAldi Recall Update: Customers Told Discard Christmas Products ‘Immediately’3 min read
ColoradoColorado State Senator Dies Suddenly4 min read
WalmartWalmart Recall Update: Customers Warned ‘Immediately Stop’ Using Products4 min readOpinion
OpinionRedefining Professional Degrees Will Hurt Everyday Americans | Opinion5 min read
OpinionAI Is Coming for Our Most Intimate Communications. Congress Must Act | Opinion5 min read
OpinionConventional Wisdom: The Thanksgiving Tragedies Edition3 min read
OpinionConventional Wisdom: The Anti-Thanksgiving Edition3 min read
OpinionHow to Remain Grounded and Thankful Amid the Chaos5 min read
