Rather than thinking in a word-based language as we do, it's more likely that a dog's thoughts are rooted in several senses—chief among them, smell. Proportionally, a much larger portion of a dog's brain is devoted to analyzing smells than a human's is (4).
What Is My Dog Thinking? covers six major aspects of dog behavior: the importance of hierarchy, food and fitness, staying safe, reproduction, social behavior, and people and dogs. Written by a leading animal behaviorist, this accessible and intriguing book will help you to interpret your pet's behavior and signals.
What Do Dogs Think About?
Acclaimed for its solid scientific research and entertaining, eminently readable style, How Dogs Think gives you the insight that you need to understand the silly, quirky, and apparently irrational behaviors that dogs demonstrate, as well as those stunning flashes of brilliance and creativity that they also can display
So how do dogs think? Dogs don't read or write, so they don't think in words and symbols the way humans do. However, they can certainly be taught to recognise symbols and words and the actions associated with them, but this is done through very careful training and isn't their natural state.
Do Dogs Have Thoughts? Yes, dogs “absolutely” have thoughts, says Dr. Emily Bray, a postdoctoral scholar in the Arizona Canine Cognition Center. “The fun part is trying to figure out what they're thinking without being able to just ask them directly,” she adds.
Cats are more likely to think dogs are a threat and act aggressively towards them. Therefore, cats are more frequently "dominant" over their dog friends. Cats are less likely to share food, toys, and beds with dogs. Cats are less likely to initiate grooming with your dog.
“Dogs are smarter than most people give them credit for and there's no denying that they have a mind of their own and can experience a range of emotions including guilt, joy, frustration, and grief,” says Linda Simon, DVM, a licensed veterinarian and veterinary consultant for ThePets.
Research shows that dogs perceive toys in the same way wolves perceive prey. It all comes down to texture, shape and size. Dogs prefer toys that either taste like food or can be torn apart. And each specific type of toy determines a different reaction from your pup.
Once they start playing, you may find your dog playing "Hide and Seek", "Keep Away" or even swiping something to get the game started. Just as we laugh, your dog may vocalize with happy yelps and yips. Happy dogs will also jump up and dance about in a frolic of fun. Dogs actually do laugh, as well!
Mistreated dogs suffer greatly. They feel depressed, hurt, and terrified. But they don't feel shame or guilt as humans would in such circumstances. They don't blame their owner for their mistreatment.
Within 10 generations, the selected foxes behaved like dogs. They were not afraid of humans, liked being petted, licked trainers' hands and feet, whined when they wanted attention and remained calm in tense situations. They even wagged their tails when they were happy.
In general, Bray says dogs probably think about all the staples in their lives, from food and play to other dogs and their pet parents. Like humans, how much time they spend pondering a specific focus “depends on the dog and their individual preferences and experiences,” she notes.