How intuitive is your dog?

Do you think your dog is able to recognize those human emotions from your facial expressions and determine when you are mad, happy, or frightened?

Dogs aren’t clairvoyant, but they do have an uncanny ability to sense our emotions.

WEDNESDAY –

Started out like any other day. But after dinner I waved goodbye to the main man in my life, and petted the two furry guys that I adore…

I was off to stuff envelopes. #moreweddingtasks

Midway to my destination, I realized I’d left my cell phone home.

Unable to receive Lee’s calls and completely unaware – while I was gone the unimaginable occurred.

The church my husband’s family has attended for decades, the church my children were baptized in, the church we attend when we’re “home” became the church that experienced a mass shooting during Bible Study.

Nine innocent people were senselessly gunned down and killed. #unbelieveable

Back at the house the phones rang continuously, and my husband desperately tried to make sense of the madness. He needed to verify his sisters, cousins, and longtime family friends were safe. His emotions were probably off the richter scale.

And I wasn’t home.

While he took call after call, Harley stayed near, Harley sat still…

You see –

• Harley’s been around sadness
• Harley’s been around fear
• Harley’s intuition helped him understand

But Jaxson –

• Jaxson didn’t understand.
• Jaxson got nervous.
• Jaxson found solace in the carpet…

While dogs are not mind readers, I think they are great observers.

In an article from doghealth.com – I read –

We humans pay so much attention to language that it often interferes with our ability to see what’s happening around us. But in some ways we rely too heavily on what we can see. Our visual system is so highly evolved that it tends to override the more primitive senses of smell, touch and hearing—those which are highly developed in dogs.

I think Doodle Dad’s body language (unbeknownst to him) made Jax uncomfortable. After all 90% of human communication is nonverbal. So his posture, and facial expressions probably spoke volumes about his mood.

Jaxson didn’t understand this new emotion he was sensing.

Was Doodle Dad a little warm about the carpet? Oh, absodoodletutely!

Was I?  – No

Due to the circumstances (the massacre in Charleston SC) Doodle Dad’s focus was elsewhere. #noted

And due to the circumstances Jaxson (I believe) sensed something was off and “off” led him straight to “wrong.”

As soon as I entered the house and learned of this heinous act, my emotions raced from agony to dismay and then fear. And almost on cue, Harley became like an article of clothing to me. He never left my side. #webeenherebefore

Jaxson clearly didn’t understand. He was restless, fidgety, and unusually active for that time of night.

Our body language, the sounds we make through the tones of our voice, and our smell are like channels to our emotions for our dogs to navigate through.

After all – aren’t dogs used for detecting illness and the onset of a seizure? It’s from the metabolic change and different chemicals that appear in our breath.

Our pets  have  incredible animal instincts. I’ve just got to find a way to re-program Jax’s instincts towards a less destructive activity.

Anybody know how to patch Berber carpet?

ONE MORE THING –

The residents of Charleston SC are still reeling from Wednesday evening. Their faith is steadfast and unyielding, yet they need our prayers.

Especially the family members of all the victims – as their days ahead are long ones. #Godhearourprayers

Here are a few articles for continued reading about a dogs intuitiveness:

Your Pet’s Incredible Animal Instincts

How Intuitive is Your Canine?

What is Left Gaze Bias?

How Dogs Sense Emotions

Enjoy your Fathers Day Weekend 🙂