Your dog isn’t just sniffing for snacks, they’re decoding a whole hidden world, and yup, that can include your emotions. Dogs can pick up on things you can’t even hear, smell, or feel; here are 10 amazing ways dogs see and sense life every day.
10. Dogs Live in a Blue and Yellow World
Our pups don’t see the world in the same colorful way that we do. But to be clear, our furry friends don’t just see yellow and blue. They can also make out combinations of those colors. Experts further believe that a dog’s vision is similar to that of a person with red-green color blindness. This probably explains why dogs go crazy over those yellow tennis balls!
9. Dogs’ Noses Are Their Superpowers
According to VCA Animal Hospitals, there are more than 100 million olfactory receptors in the noses of dogs—compare that to 5 to 6 million receptors in humans. Clearly, dogs are superior when it comes to sense of smell. And their noses work better when they’re damp, as moisture helps them capture scent particles more efficiently.
8. Dogs Have Superior Hearing
Once again, dogs have beaten us when it comes to sense of hearing. They can hear up to 65,000 Hz, which is too high-pitched for us. Still, dogs can lose their hearing with age, but this is usually the last to go. Whistle may still work when your dog can no longer hear your voice.
7. Dogs Experience Time Differently
While time doesn’t physically change for dogs, they may perceive it in a different way. Research shows that dogs process visual info at a higher “frame rate” than us, so they may feel like time is moving slower because they take in more sensory input. Many dogs also struggle with being left alone, which may hint at a different time perception.
6. Dogs Can Sense Earth’s Magnetic Field
There’s evidence suggesting that dogs can sense the Earth’s magnetic field and they could be using it to calculate shortcuts in an unfamiliar terrain. While we rely on maps, our dogs could be tapping into nature’s version of GPS when exploring or finding their way home.
5. Dogs Can Smell Medical Emergency
We’ve already talked about dogs’ superior sense of smell and here’s another incredible thing they can do with their noses. Yes, they can detect chemical changes in a person’s body that happen during medical events like seizures and diabetic emergencies. You’ll also find dedicated organizations that train dogs to help flag medical conditions and prevent emergencies.
4. Dogs Can See Better in the Dark
Dogs have more rod cells in their eyes than us humans, and these cells are responsible for vision in low light. While dogs are adapted for night activity, this doesn’t mean they have a perfect night vision. They still don’t see the fine detail and their color perception remains limited.
3. Dogs Smell Your Emotions
Dogs, using their powerful sense of smell, can also detect what you’re feeling (sadness, fear, stress, or happiness). This is because your body produces scent markers like cortisol and adrenaline that dogs can pick up. Dogs also often mirror our moods, so when they see you happy, they become more playful and wag their tails.
2. Dogs Can Detect Heat Through Their Nose
Dogs may not have thermal vision but their noses can detect heat. Researchers found that dogs can sense thermal radiation (body heat) through their wet nose tips. This makes their noses similar to heat sensors, complementing their night vision. It can also play an important role in search-and-rescue work of trained dogs.
1. Dogs Can Hear Your Heartbeat
With dogs’ exceptional hearing abilities, they can hear your heartbeat as it’s still within their hearing range. They may not rely on your heartbeat the way they use body language or scent, but they are aware of it. They may associate your heartbeat with comfort and security, especially if you’ve been with them since puppyhood.