Dogs Are Considered Part of the Family, So It’s Important to Understand Their Unique Behavior

Amidst the wave of contemporary lifestyles, more and more people are living alongside companion animals, one of which is dogs. Dogs are now not only pets, but many consider them part of their owners’ families.

Research shows that dogs, like humans, can feel sadness, joy, or the need for comfort. However, their owners sometimes fail to understand this because dogs cannot communicate through words.

Evolutionary Process
Based on genetic analysis, dogs and wolves separated into different species around 27.000–40.000 years ago. Archaeological evidence shows that dogs were domesticated by humans in Germany around 14.200 years ago. Genetic experts agree that dogs were domesticated from wolves 14.000 years ago in Europe.

Modern dogs are the result of thousands of years of evolution alongside humans. Therefore, the emotional intelligence possessed by dogs is related to this evolution. Owners often see their dogs grieve when they lose a family member or friend.

In the animal world, dogs are categorized as one of the most emotionally sensitive species. Therefore, dogs often show emotional expressions such as joy and enthusiasm, frustration, and sadness. 

One of the most prominent behaviors we often observe in dogs is the habit of marking their territory with urine, feces, or by rubbing their bodies against bushes or trees. This behavior is closely related to the wild nature of dogs to mark their territory as well as a form of communication with their peers or other animals.

In addition, dogs can also show affection by bringing gifts to their owners. This behavior is inseparable from the behavior of dogs in the wild, where they often share food and other resources with members of their group.

A dog’s curiosity can also be reflected in its behavior. For example, pricking up its ears, holding its tail straight back, and focusing its eyes on an object are investigative behaviors. This behavior is inherited from their ancestors, which was very useful in the wild for detecting prey, threats, or anything interesting.

Often, owners are annoyed because their dogs like to dig up the ground in the yard or in flower pots. This is natural behavior for dogs as hunting animals. In addition, this digging habit is also related to dogs’ efforts to regulate their body temperature to remain stable.

The Secret Behind Dog Behavior
If we observe closely, dogs often stare at their owners or other people they trust with deep, intense eyes. This eye contact reflects the strong bond between dogs and their owners. This behavior symbolizes closeness, affection, and love for their owners.

Conversely, if we see a dog growling softly, it means that it is trying to express the fear and anxiety it is experiencing. Therefore, in this situation, the owner must understand and take action to calm and reassure the dog by approaching it slowly.

Another thing we often see is that dogs really like to be hugged and carried. For dogs, this is a form of affection that they crave. So, it is not surprising that dogs show enthusiasm when they are reunited with their owners after being apart for a long time. They will bark, scratch, and jump around happily.

Many owners realize that their dogs often follow them wherever they go, both inside and outside the house. This behavior is very important to understand, because it is an expression of security when the dog is near its owner.

If a dog sits on our toes, this behavior is an expression of the dog’s affection and desire to stay connected to its owner.

Do Dogs Understand Us?
One of the most frequently asked questions in society is whether dogs can understand humans.

Research by psychology experts reveals that a dog’s intelligence is equivalent to that of a two-year-old child. If trained gradually, a dog can learn to count and develop a vocabulary of over 160 words, and some trained dogs can even recognize up to 250 words.  

Additionally, research shows that dogs have good memory. However, dogs’ memory of the past is very weak unless they are faced with similar situations and places. So, dogs are not vengeful animals if they have experienced something unpleasant.

Do Dogs Have a Sixth Sense?
Many people believe that dogs have a sixth sense. They are considered capable of predicting storms and even death.

However, research shows that this ability is not mystical but rather evidence of their keen instincts. Dogs are highly sensitive to changes in barometric pressure and have much sharper hearing than humans. This ability allows dogs to detect the sound of thunder from a great distance, even before humans are aware of it. Therefore, it is not surprising that dogs appear restless before a storm arrives because they sense it first.

As for the habit of licking, it is closely related to the expression of affection. Sometimes, it is also a way for them to communicate something important. In the medical world, this behavior is used to detect diseases, such as cancer. This is because they are trained to continuously lick, sniff, or even gently bite certain areas of their owner’s body that are problematic.

With their extraordinary licking and smelling abilities, dogs can also detect chemical changes resulting from human metabolism. Therefore, they can detect cancer and diabetes. Thanks to their sensitive sense of smell, dogs can even detect diseases before people know about them.

Understanding Dog Behavior
The most prominent dog behavior we often encounter is barking. This is one form of communication with humans and other animals. A dog’s bark is also intended as a warning of unusual activity, such as when there is an unfamiliar person. Barking is also an expression of a dog’s behavior to show territory, attract attention, joy, fear, and loneliness.

Another behavior that dogs often display is biting. This is an expression of fear, surprise, or a dog’s instinct to protect family members or belongings from being disturbed by others. In addition, pain and frustration can trigger a dog to bite.

It should be understood that dogs do not bite suddenly. Generally, they will bark and growl first. Therefore, if a dog exhibits this behavior, it is best not to approach it.

Dogs also often tilt their heads to hear more clearly. Physically, dogs have excellent hearing and can easily pick up a wide range of sounds. However, in certain conditions, dogs need to tilt their heads to increase their hearing sensitivity.

As explained earlier, a dog’s closeness to its owner or other people symbolizes an emotional bond. Therefore, it is not surprising that dogs often left at home for extended periods may appear gloomy and sad, and in some cases, may even become depressed.

Understanding this behavior is crucial in enhancing happiness, not only for the owner but also for the dog itself.

Prof Ronny Rachman Noor
Expert in Ecological Genetics, IPB University (IAAS/KQA)