What is My Dog Thinking About?

Have you ever watched dogs play at a dog park, seemingly smiling, jumping, and pawing all over each other, and wondered, "What do dogs think about?" or "How do dogs think?" Maybe you looked at your dog staring longingly out the window wondering what thoughts are crossing their mind, or chatted with your dog before work, feeling absolutely positive they understood everything you just said. But, does he? Are you simply assuming your dog understands you because their nonverbal communication, like eye contact, and even verbal communications like barking, make it seem as if they really get what you're saying?

Wondering how a dog's brain works is not a new subject. Humans have been pondering this question for centuries. Consider this quote from Jeremy Bentham, which dates all the way back to 1789, "... The question is not, Can they reason? Nor, Can they talk? But, Can they suffer?" All loving dog owners like to think that their furry friend can communicate with them. In fact, many believe that their dogs experience a wide range of emotions and worry about their pet's happiness and emotional well-being. Because of this, pet parents want to believe that dogs communicate, even if there happens to be a language barrier.

While dogs may not speak words in the same language as you, they are able to comprehend the world around them. The key is to understand how their brain works to see what they think and better understand their communication cues.

Do Dogs Think Like Humans?

There are numerous studies of how the human brain processes language, but how do dogs think? Neuroscientists at Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest recently completed a study published in Science in which they scanned the brains of thirteen family dogs with an MRI. While they were in the scanner, the dogs listened to their trainer's voice saying various phrases, such as "well done," which was considered a meaningful phrase, and "as if," a meaningless phrase, both in praising tones and emotionally neutral tones. The findings showed that the meaningful phrases were processed in the left hemisphere of the brain, regardless of intonation, which is similar to human's processing, but the meaningless phrases did not register. "It shows that these words have meaning to dogs," says Attila Andics, a neuroscientist who was a member of the research team.

In this study, intonation did play a role in the dogs’ understanding and was being processed in the right hemisphere of the dogs' brains. For example, speech that resembled praise lit up the reward system area of the brain. The findings of this study indicate that the meaning of phrases and the tone in which they are delivered are processed separately to help dogs identify what specifically was said to them.

Do Dogs Have a Good Memory?

If you've ever tried to train a puppy, you know that consistent practice teaches your pet to remember the commands that you've both worked on. In fact, your dog may likely know how to sit, stand, lay down, give a paw, roll over, or many other fun tricks. Some dogs have even been conditioned to let their owners know when they need to go outside to relieve themselves by pawing a bell on the door or barking and sitting near an exit.

Scientific American reports that several studies have shown that not only can a dog's memory be trained to complete tasks, but that your pet remembers more about your actions than you may think. For example, researchers explored whether dogs have access to episodic memory, meaning remembering moments that have happened, but with no conditioning to expect that these moments may occur again. The results showed that the dogs were able to recall unconditioned episodes after a period of time passed, similar to human experience. This means that dogs remember people, places, and especially phrases without having to be rewarded for their behavior. It helps them better learn how humans communicate with them, and how they can most effectively communicate with us.

So, don't despair if your puppy seems to have trouble following your training program. It isn't that they are  unable to be trained. Your pet is highly intelligent, after all. It may simply mean they are young, having fun, and might be distracted with all the incredible and new experiences in the world, such as chasing butterflies or chewing on the leash. If you still have trouble with training, contact a professional in your area or ask your veterinarian for training program recommendations.

So, What Do Dogs Think About?

While research on the canine brain is certainly helpful in understanding that dogs are able to comprehend communication, you may be yearning for more details on what precisely goes on in their mind. Did you ever wonder how they really felt about those homemade dog treats you made? Yes, your dog gobbled them up quickly, but that could have meant anything. Maybe they were hungry or simply trying to not hurt your feelings. Or, maybe they liked the treats and are waiting patiently for you to make more. The truth is: there's no concrete way to know for sure about these minute-to-minute thoughts. It's up to you to decipher the ues and imagine the detailed thoughts. Your dog is your best friend, after all!

Have you ever wondered, "What do dogs think about?" While you may not be able to pinpoint precisely what your pooch is thinking at any given moment, you can get to know their personality and behaviors, which will help you interpret what they may be considering or feeling throughout the day. It's up to you and your imagination to dream up the details!

Contributor Bio

Erin Ollila

Erin Ollila believes in the power of words and how a message can inform—and even transform—its intended audience. Her writing can be found all over the internet and in print, and includes interviews, ghostwriting, blog posts, and creative nonfiction. Erin is a geek for SEO and all things social media. She graduated from Fairfield University with an M.F.A. in Creative Writing. Reach out to her on Twitter @ReinventingErin or learn more about her at http://erinollila.com.