A dog wants to comfort
Dogs recognise human sorrow and want to help. Hildegard of Bingen, the important scholar and healer of the Middle Ages, already said: „Give people a dog and their soul will become healthy!" Most dog owners know: no one comforts better than your own furry friend when you are feeling down. Because dogs sense their owners' sorrow very precisely.
Dogs sense their owners' sorrow
This is also confirmed scientifically by a new study. The researchers analysed the behaviour of 34 dogs of different breeds and sizes. To do this, the owners sat down behind a Plexiglas door in another room, so that they could still see their dogs. Then they were to either hum a lullaby or cry and ask for help. The door could be opened easily, so that the animals could reach their owners at any time.
Dogs that heard their owners crying opened the door considerably faster
This usually happened in only a quarter of the time – compared with the animals whose owners remained calm. Some dogs, however, got into such a panic, believing their humans to be in distress, that they became downright unable to act. Large differences were also seen in heart rate. Remarkably: the clever animals seemed to distinguish precisely whether their humans were really sad or only pretending to be.
- Scientific proof of canine compassion
- The speed of the reaction depends on the intensity of the sorrow
- Dogs distinguish between genuine suffering and feigned sadness
- A strong bond is the basis of their willingness to help
Bond and compassion as canine motivation
Of course, it could be that dogs initially want to calm their own state of mind. But the wish to help shows above all the strong bond with the human. The impression of many dog owners is therefore correct: their four-legged friends not only sense human sorrow – they even become active in order to cheer up their humans. Modern studies give us ever more insight into the emotional world of our four-legged friends. And after all, the wish to see one's best friend happy is usually mutual.
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The content of the articles is for general information purposes only and does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a veterinarian. This information does not constitute medical advice and should not be construed as such.
