Dogs are just the best. They make excellent friends who are always there for you and always in a good mood. Not even my mom pees with excitement when she sees me. Clearly, no one loves me as much as my dog.
Dogs are full of emotion and scientists have found they are also full of thoughts. @dogfeelings is using Twitter to tell the world all about the doggo feels – and it’s so relatable to anyone who has ever owned or loved a dog.
The hilarious and adorable project is all about helping us to see the world as our favorite four-legged friends do. Check out some of our favorite posts below!
1.
i hear a noise. i think it’s the garaGE DOOR. IT IS THE GARAGE DOOR. THE HUMAN IS HOME. AND MY FEETS. THEY ARE A TIPPY TAPPIN
— Thoughts of Dog (@dog_feelings) September 13, 2019
According to Dr. Jill Sackman, senior medical director at BluePearl Veterinary Partners in Michigan, dogs are constantly thinking about things. “They probably have the level of cognition of a 3 to 5-year-old human,” she said.
By that age human toddlers have begun to understand the world around them. In other words, dogs have a lot going on in their busy little minds.
Scientists have been busy studying dog brains to learn more about what they think and why – and they’ve learned so much interesting stuff in the process.
2.
you may think it’s strange. for me to lose my mind with joy. every time you walk through the door. but when you love like i do. there’s no other option
— Thoughts of Dog (@dog_feelings) July 30, 2019
While imaging a dog’s brain, scientists would have the dog smell the aroma of their owner. Turns out, the very scent of you actually makes your dog happy and lights up the “reward center” of the brain.
3.
outside is larger than you think. which is why i always have my leash. so the human doesn’t get lost
— Thoughts of Dog (@dog_feelings) July 9, 2019
Your dog knows how you’re feeling. Their brains are so tuned in that they can detect emotion in your voice.
4.
if you leave the room i’m in. i will always follow you to the next one. whatever this adventure is. you don’t have to do it alone
— Thoughts of Dog (@dog_feelings) October 4, 2019
Dr. Gregory Berns, a neuroscientist at Emory University, conducted a study to uncover if dogs preferred food or praise more. While measuring their brain activity, dogs were offered a hot dog on one occasion and praise on another.
Dr. Berns’ team then measured the response to both, and they found that twenty percent of dogs actually responded more positively to the praise than the food.
5.
i’m sitting next to the human. as they put on their shoes to leave. i glanced at the door. then slowly up at them. with the widest eyes i could manage. long story short. we’re working from home today
— Thoughts of Dog (@dog_feelings) June 26, 2019
In another study, Dr. Berns and his team worked to uncover how well dogs can remember faces and objects. They discovered that dogs’ brains naturally process faces. So not only do they know how you smell, they also know how you look.
6.
for your convenience. i have made a list of the times. i would appreciate your attention
always
— Thoughts of Dog (@dog_feelings) July 18, 2019
Researchers are positive that dogs feel a wide range of emotions like joy, pain, fear, excitement, love, anger, and contentment. Yet, more complex emotions like guilt, shame and pride may not be on their radar.
What about that guilty face we’ve all seen our dogs make before? Scientists say that look of “guilt” is more than likely just the face your dog makes when they fear punishment.
7.
sometimes. i will go outside. only to realize. it is inside that i desired all along
— Thoughts of Dog (@dog_feelings) July 23, 2019
One study placed two dogs in different cages side-by-side, giving one dog the ability to dispense food in the other dog’s cage. If the two dogs knew one another, they were far more likely to give their pal a treat than if the dogs didn’t know each other at all.
8.
sometimes. i’ll pretend i need to tell you a secret. but when you lean in close. i’ll lick your ear instead. i am a master of deception
— Thoughts of Dog (@dog_feelings) July 13, 2019
Dogs are just like us when it comes to willpower. They definitely have willpower, but only so much of it.
Scientists took two groups of dogs, letting one group do whatever they wanted for 10 minutes while the other group was made to sit and stay.
Next, they asked the dogs to complete a puzzle game. The dogs who had been forced to exercise their willpower and sit for 10 minutes were less successful at focusing on the puzzle because their willpower had already been taxed.
9.
the human came home for a bit. claiming they forgot their lunch. but i think we all know. they just missed me
— Thoughts of Dog (@dog_feelings) October 9, 2019
Dogs have dreams just like us! In fact, dogs share similar sleep patterns to humans.
Some studies have found that smaller dog breeds tend to dream more often than larger dog breeds.
10.
i went outside one more time before bed. the human kept calling me. but the stars look so nice right now. if i sit and enjoy them long enough. the human will have no choice. but to come out. and enjoy them with me
— Thoughts of Dog (@dog_feelings) September 4, 2019
Your dog is not deaf to the power of his or her bark. In fact, just as a baby understands the power of crying, your dog understands the power of barking and is trying to elicit a reaction.
11.
the small neighbor human. goes back to school tomorrow. so we spent the whole day together. doing our favorite things. i understand education is important. but here’s the thing. so am i
— Thoughts of Dog (@dog_feelings) August 25, 2019
A wagging tail is a sign of a happy dog, but tail movement can signal other things as well.
A tail wagging to the right is a sign of a happy dog, but a tail wagging to the left tends to indicate fear.
Low tail wags signal nervousness, and rapid tail wags paired with tense muscles can show aggression.
12.
gooooob morning. sometimes when the human is still asleep. i will quietly climb onto their face. and wait patiently for them to wake up. this normally does not take very long
— Thoughts of Dog (@dog_feelings) June 24, 2019
Dogs aren’t vengeful; they really are sweet innocent creatures. It might seem like your dog is trying to get back at you for being gone all day when they poo on your fave carpet, but they aren’t.
Researchers believe dogs don’t act out of vengeance, instead something else caused them to release their bowels on your favorite rug – like nerves, or just the need to go really, really bad.
While dogs can act in immediate retaliation, for instance if they are attacked, they don’t show the ability to purposely plan out and perform acts of vengeance.
13.
i may have gotten bigger. but my desire to be held. has remained constant
— Thoughts of Dog (@dog_feelings) September 10, 2019
14.
the sky booms have begun. and we all know how scary they can be. so the human and i are headed to the shelter. to comfort some pups. who don’t yet have. someone to hold them
— Thoughts of Dog (@dog_feelings) July 4, 2019
15.
the human invited some frens over. and one of them is sitting on the floor. gently rubbing my ears. they refer to me as the squishy wonder. and if my human doesn’t step it up. i’m going home with them
— Thoughts of Dog (@dog_feelings) September 29, 2019
16.
today. i’m going to lie on the porch. with my front paws hanging off the top stair. and when the sun breaks through the trees. i will squint and smile. and become marginally toastier
— Thoughts of Dog (@dog_feelings) August 10, 2019
17.
every night we have cheese time. this is when i am presented. a single slice of cheese for consumption. i know exactly when cheese time is. and delaying it for any reason. is against the law
— Thoughts of Dog (@dog_feelings) July 16, 2019
18.
i found a pizza crust. on our walk today. in case anyone was thinking. about giving up on their dreams
— Thoughts of Dog (@dog_feelings) September 22, 2019
19.
we are headed to a pumpkin patch. and although i’ve been told. i can only bring one home. i am going to say hi. to every pumpkin there
— Thoughts of Dog (@dog_feelings) October 13, 2019
20.
the small neighbor human. came over after school. to try to get me to eat their homework. while i don’t condone such behavior. i absolutely complied
— Thoughts of Dog (@dog_feelings) September 17, 2019
21.
all i need right now. is to rest my chin. in the palm of your hand. sometimes my noggin gets heavy. probably from all the knowledge
— Thoughts of Dog (@dog_feelings) June 13, 2019
22.
IT IS A BEAUTIFUL DAY. MY CONFIDENCE IS SOARING. GIVE ME MY LEASH I’LL WALK MYSELF. LOOK AT THESE HIPS SWAY
— Thoughts of Dog (@dog_feelings) June 22, 2019
23.
the human keeps a picture of me. on the front of their little computer. so they can show everyone they meet. wherever they go. just how beautiful i am
— Thoughts of Dog (@dog_feelings) November 4, 2019
24.
if you sit on the floor. i’m getting in your lap. this is just the way things are
— Thoughts of Dog (@dog_feelings) August 7, 2019
25.
could you please do that thing. where you hold me
— Thoughts of Dog (@dog_feelings) October 30, 2019