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Proof that dogs really DO know what you're thinking - and they can understand as much as toddlers
Mail Online ^ | Jan 6, 2012 | Ted Thornhill

Posted on 01/05/2012 11:16:50 PM PST by expat1000

Dog lovers like to think it is their masterful voices that make their pets so keen to please. In fact, it is more complex than that – with eye contact playing an important role alongside spoken commands.

Scientists have found the animals pick up not only the words we say, but our ‘intent to communicate’ with them. In fact, dogs are as advanced as a two-year-old child in following eye contact, a study has found.

Who's a clever boy? Dogs have similar cognitive skills to babies, say researchers Jszsef Topal, of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, said: ‘Increasing evidence supports the notion that humans and dogs share some social skills. 'The way dogs work resembles that of a six-month to two-year-old child in a lot of respects.'

Dogs even watch how we make eye contact, to work out what we mean and why we are talking to them.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Miscellaneous
KEYWORDS: doggie; dogs
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To: Scotswife

The dumbest dog is smarter than the average politician and . . . dogs don’t bore you with lie after lie after lie after lie (applies to ALL politicians).


41 posted on 01/06/2012 5:13:51 AM PST by MasterGunner01 (11)
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To: dawn53

” If one sees the other is in the “spot”...they’ll go get a toy and try to entice the “spot taker” off the bed. “

haha! Same thing at our house. We call it trickeration.


42 posted on 01/06/2012 5:13:53 AM PST by battletank
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To: Slings and Arrows

Calling Captain Obvious, calling Captain Obvious.

Sheesh, any dog owner knows this, and it’s not just eye contact, but “body language” as well. Heck, my Corgis can even recognize some spelled words (as in “O” “U” “T”).

Speaking of Corgis:

http://www.komonews.com/news/offbeat/Dog-found-alive-4-days-after-Montana-avalanche—136768583.html


43 posted on 01/06/2012 5:23:26 AM PST by Wonder Warthog
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To: expat1000

I swear my old dog Blue could actually read my mind, when it was time to give him his bath, all I had to do is THINK about it and he’d crawl under the couch.

He also was a good judge of a person’s character, whenever someone would come into the house, he would do one of two things walk over the person and wag his tail or jump up on my lap and stare at him until they left. He was never wrong.

I miss him to this day.


44 posted on 01/06/2012 5:26:28 AM PST by RetSignman (I take responsibility for what I post but not for what you understand.)
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To: expat1000

I have a one eyed, three legged Jack Russell Terrier, hit by a car before I rescuced him, that does not like monkeys either.

Monkeys come on TV and the fight is on!

His name is Ralphie.


45 posted on 01/06/2012 5:38:14 AM PST by hadaclueonce (scrap copper is more than $3.00 a pound. wind generators are full of copper)
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To: expat1000

Roflol


46 posted on 01/06/2012 5:38:54 AM PST by org.whodat (Just another heartless American, hated by "AMNESTY" Newt, Willard, Perry and nervous supporters.)
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To: eastforker

Absolutely correct. Every day, I am more and more amazed at how truly intelligent my dogs are.


47 posted on 01/06/2012 5:40:34 AM PST by rintense
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To: AnAmericanMother; Titan Magroyne; Badeye; Shannon; SandRat; arbooz; potlatch; ...
WOOOF!

The Doggie Ping list is for FReepers who would like to be notified of threads relating to all things canid. If you would like to join the Doggie Ping Pack (or be unleashed from it), FReemail me.

48 posted on 01/06/2012 5:41:57 AM PST by Joe 6-pack (Que me amat, amet et canem. meum)
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To: McGavin999

If you put your wife in the trunk of your car and let her out an hour later, she will be mad as hell! If you put your dog in the trunk of your car and let her out an hour later, she will be happy as hell to see you.

Dog is man’s best friend.


49 posted on 01/06/2012 5:50:42 AM PST by Eileanright
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To: expat1000

Linda The Lab knows when I am sad, happy, lonely, silly, etc. AND she does NOT like it when people wear sunglasses, because then she can’t see their EYES.


50 posted on 01/06/2012 5:54:05 AM PST by left that other site
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To: guitarplayer1953

I thought we were the only ones who spelled in front of the dog lol!


51 posted on 01/06/2012 6:17:46 AM PST by Silentgypsy (If this creature is not stopped it could make its way to Novosibirsk!)
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To: HiTech RedNeck

“...snuggle up against the painful part.” Funny you should say that. Our girl cat has a sixth sense when her Daddy has pain. If he has elbow tendonitis, she licks the trigger point and he actually feels better. (Reincarnated acupressurist?)


52 posted on 01/06/2012 6:22:52 AM PST by Silentgypsy (If this creature is not stopped it could make its way to Novosibirsk!)
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To: Jonty30

I had a dog who taught herself sign language when she went deaf in her old age. She was so good at it that it took my neighbor to point out that she was deaf.


53 posted on 01/06/2012 6:25:41 AM PST by afraidfortherepublic
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To: ZX12R

“...Here’s a picture of him yelling at me.” Actually, he wanted to express his opinion of the current roster of presidential candidates (no slur intended toward any of the candidates—he’s just passionate.)


54 posted on 01/06/2012 6:41:53 AM PST by Silentgypsy (If this creature is not stopped it could make its way to Novosibirsk!)
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To: All

can’t resist telling about my little Havanese... We live in a high rise senior living building, and little Ripley seems to understand the elevator system.

There are two elevators, with arrow lights that come on for “up” or “down”. He will sit and watch intently to see which arrow light will come on, and then he will go to the correct elevator.

He seems to have a sense of how long it should take for the elevator to show up, too. If it is too long a wait, he gets impatient, and starts to shiver.


55 posted on 01/06/2012 7:44:37 AM PST by jacquej
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To: expat1000

When my neighbors newborn was crying and they had trouble consoling her so their lab (Axle) brought all of his toys to her....now, as she is starting to talk when she wakes in the morning she says, Axle? mommy? daddy?


56 posted on 01/06/2012 7:54:14 AM PST by Kimmers (Pray more and shoot straight.........)
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To: Salamander

Disapproving Doberman disapproves of your activities.

:-)


57 posted on 01/06/2012 8:39:39 AM PST by Altariel (`)
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To: expat1000

We know dogs are smart!


58 posted on 01/06/2012 8:59:26 AM PST by tob2
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To: All


I, Rufus Hot Sauce, AKC, know that you have the treats hidden behind the box of Cherrios in the kitchen cabinet on the right hand side. I know with both, a nose like this, and that you look at the cabinet every time I come into the kitchen.
59 posted on 01/06/2012 9:01:27 AM PST by BigEdLB (Now there ARE 1,000,000 regrets - but it may be too late.)
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To: expat1000

I think it is undisputed that dogs listen better than toddlers.


60 posted on 01/06/2012 9:01:31 AM PST by SeaHawkFan
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