Posted by Dinah on December 23, 2009, at 8:50:49
In reply to Can dogs sense human emotions?, posted by hyperfocus on December 22, 2009, at 20:15:14
Absolutely. Maybe the ability to do it is different in different dogs, like the sense of smell. But absolutely yes.
But then, I tend to think there's something to sense. Maybe neurochemical scents, maybe small changes in posture or movement, tone of voice, etc. I know there's a smell of fear and stress, because I can smell it myself - maybe moreso when it's stale. Dogs have better noses than we do.
In evolutionary terms, it would make perfect sense that this would be a survival advantage in pack animals, which dogs very very much are. I think we reap all sorts of benefits from "adopted" into a pack with animals who are really really good at that.
Whether it's empathy, I don't know. It's hard to live with a dog and not recognize that they too have emotions. It certainly seems like they understand what we're feeling and either enjoy it or try to help us. Again, with abilities varying between dogs.
poster:Dinah
thread:930406
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20091125/msgs/930497.html