Dogs can read human emotions, study finds (only other species shown to be capable of this)

Telegraph ^ | 13 Jan 2016 | Sophie Jamieson

[Fiddlstix]

I do love my dogs. They are the "best people" I know. lol.
My little Yorkie gave birth to 5 puppies 11 weeks ago. They are the cutest little guys you've ever seen and they seem to know it too.
Right now I'm sick. I have the flu. I'm really taking care of myself too as I already had pneumonia a couple of years back and it almost killed me.
My dogs seem to understand that I'm ill right now...
Even the little puppies.
They seem to be wishing they could do something to make me well again...

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

None unless you are British.

[LibWhacker]

All my dogs have been able to read me like a book. I have to be careful though, because although they can tell when I’m PO’d (at some idiot liberal on TV, say), they cannot conceive that I’m mad at someone who isn’t even present in the room. They always think I’m mad at them, and that hurts their feelings very badly. Then I have to go apologize and scratch their ears for an hour. I spend a lot of time scratching ears.

[ru4liberty]

Cats rule, dogs follow.

Thanks for posting this truth. Not one to enjoy being ruled, I find this reminder helpful to explain why I, a leader, have always been a dog person.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Did they interview any cats?

[HiTech RedNeck]

Cats will rule only those who will let themselves be ruled. Otherwise, they are pesky little balls of furry love, and yes they even sympathize with me.

[soycd]

Pound for pound, after my ammunition is gone, cats will rule.

[HiTech RedNeck]

The reason cats seem to rule, I say, is that cats run on a special kind of love that needs more attention to do right. Dogs will anxiously kiss up to you. Cats just soak in the adoration. But if you are willing to do it, then they will come around and love you back till your heart melts at what balls of furry sweetness they are.

[BraveMan]

Weightless Cats are way more entertaining than Cat Juggling.

[soycd]

But of course.

The love you give does balance the love you take ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ayo75QnDnss

[luvbach1]

Its one reason I stopped watching football - my dog couldn't take it.

I share a house with my son-in-law, a rabid Denver Bronco fan. Whenever he watches a game he yells and emotes at every positive or negative turn of the game for the Broncos. Inevitably, if near the TV he's watching, his dog seeks refuge in my part of the house.

[Sybeck1]

Obama used to have a best friend

[definitelynotaliberal]

It’s terrible to see the ages of our fallen. I can’t exactly see the date of USCG Brukenthal’s passing because his gorgeous companion’s ear is blocking it, but goodness, this picture makes me simultaneously sad and proud for a variety of reasons.

RIP Bruckenthal

[PGR88]

researchers have shown they can recognise emotions in humans by combining information from different senses.

Of course dogs can do this. That's why humans and dogs found each other 10,000 years ago. If any other species could do it, THEY would be "mans best friend" but they can't - only dogs can.

[definitelynotaliberal]

I’ve seen it too in my dogsitting experiences. One dog would fast (a serious chow hound of a Golden Retriever, no less) on the last day till the door bell rang and her people came for her.

[Yaelle]

I have lived with a cat or two since I was seven years old. Yes, they also, like dogs, seem to know when you are sad or ill.

[mojo114]

Great picture, thanks for posting.

[mojo114]

Aww you have good little ones- you get well real soon.

[Himyar]

Horses that have a close relationship with their owners or handlers tune into their people’s emotions.

[matthew fuller]

"They are the only creatures outside of humans who have been observed to have that ability. "

I think that is a false statement. Large pet birds have been observed protecting their owners, and I am willing to bet that chimpanzees, and possibly other primates have the ability to read human emotion.