Sixth Sense #7: Depression
Dogs are known to comfort their humans during times of sadness or permanent hardship. Often, they will observe a person from across the room, and come over after a while, and lie down near the person. Many dogs will also try to lick away their humans’ tears.
Researchers at the University of London found that dogs in fact were more inclined to approach a crying person, than someone who was simply talking or humming. They noticed that these dogs responded to sadness with submissive behaviors.
The fact that they could distinguish humming from crying proved that sounds related with sadness somehow carried a greater emotional weight and meaning for the dogs.
And though there is no hard science telling us that dogs experience empathy, we certainly believe that their ability to single out emotions proves that they are aware of sadness.
Sixth Sense #8: Labor
Many women have reported that their dogs behave differently, and more restlessly, during their labor. Studies have speculated that anything from transitions in physical actions to special scents from the woman in labor can tip off the dog.
When meeting other dogs or humans for the first time, our canine companions immediate go for the nether regions and the armpits.
This is because those places most actively house our sweat glands, which secret pheromones. Dogs use pheromones to “guide” them about someone’s disposition and feelings.
Dogs are also known to sniff women a lot when they’re ovulating, because pheromones emitted during that time are stronger than they are at other times.
Similarly, dogs can detect the heightened differences in our scents, given off at different periods in our lives.
Which one of these dog intuitions were you the most surprised by? Let us know in the comments below!
Please SHARE if you'll study your own dog's behavior more closely from now on.
