Listening to Your Dog’s Instincts
As dog owners, we like to think our furry friends are good judges of character and safety, but do dogs actually have good instincts that we should listen to? Read on to learn more about whether you can trust your dog’s instincts.
Reading Body Language
If it seems like your dog understands even the slightest signals that you make toward them, you could be right. Studies have shown that dogs are extremely adept at reading the body language of humans to understand when we are nervous, scared, or threatening. Therefore, if you’re upset or nervous, your dog knows it! Their instincts are also a good judge of someone’s intentions when they enter a conversation with you. If someone is threatening, your canine companion might know it before you do.
Sniffing Out Danger
Dogs have heightened senses of smell that make them experts at detecting alcohol, drugs, blood, sweat, or even explosives, even when we can’t smell a thing. While your dog won’t judge these scents as negative unless they’ve been trained to react that way, they may act differently if they pick up on any of these scents. This can be a good signal to you to keep your eyes and ears peeled to gauge the safety of your surroundings.
Listening for the Signs
Sometimes, subtle signs can make all the difference in your safety and wellbeing, so it’s a good thing that our dogs are skilled listeners as well as sniffers! Dogs can hear whispers, breathing, or other warning signs that you might miss. If their ears perk up and they seem wary of a situation, they could be hearing the warning signs that you’re missing. Reacting to sounds doesn’t always mean that something dangerous is occurring, but you should try to read your dog’s cues when they’re acting funny.
Trust Has Its Limitations
While we can generally trust our dogs’ instincts, it’s important to remember that they can’t know everything and may just be overreacting to the stimuli surrounding them. Some dogs are poorly socialized or territorial and will act like everyone around them is a threat. Therefore, an aggressive or antisocial dog’s reactions will naturally be less accurate than a friendly, secure dog. Keep this in mind when you’re wondering if you should trust your dog’s instincts in a situation. A general rule is to trust their instincts but within reason!
Dogs are complex, intelligent creatures with killer instincts. Using their reactions as a way to guide your own behavior can help keep you safe in dangerous situations.