What's Going On in a Dog's Mind?

Some of you may be familiar with Jin Designs beloved dog who comes on a range of minimalist, beautifully designed home and giftware items. Sitting Dog is illustrated from behind, sitting down and appears to be pondering something. Every dog lover will have wondered at least once what’s going on in their fur friend’s brain. Unlike a human, of course, if you are to ask a dog what they’re thinking about, they’re not going to be able to tell you. It’s a shame - they’d probably make great conversation if they could.

The question of what dogs think about has intrigued many. Here’s what the science says.

According to veterinary neurologist at NYC’s Animal Medical Centre, Dr. JP McCue, all mammals have similar brain structures and can perform the same basic functions. It has been estimated that a fully grown dog has the same level of cognition of a three to five year old human. They’re pretty intelligent beings and respond well to being trained. They can recognise where you’re pointing to, which bowl has the most food, they can alert you when they need to go out or when they want to be walked. Dogs are also used to performing really important roles from guiding the blind to detecting drugs, bombs and bodies. 

They have a larger portion in their brain for analysing smells than any other animals which are kept as pets. Their sensitive noses make it easy for them to associate different scents with memories.

Studies have shown that dogs who are able to learn one thing fast and accurately are able to do the same for other things, suggesting that just like humans, some dogs are more intelligent all round than others.

Dogs are the oldest domesticated animals and they have learnt how to understand and communicate with us humans from thousands of years of being around us. They use cues from our body language, tones of voice and smells to work out what we’re trying to say to them.

Dogs also experience feelings in a very similar way to us. They are able to feel happiness, optimism, fear, anxiousness and depression as well as jealously. There has also been research findings which prove that dogs can present symptoms of post-traumatic-stress-disease. They understand different types of pain, not just physical pain but also emotional, just like humans do.

It’s impossible to read a person’s thoughts and the same can be said for dogs, including our favourite fur friend, Sitting Dog. But what’s clear is that dogs are wonderful, loyal and clever friends. That familiar pose captures a moment many dog lovers will recognise - when a dog simply sits, watches the world go by, and makes you wonder what’s going on in their head. Perhaps in time, we’ll understand them even more.

Take a look at Sitting Dog Collection - a celebration of our thoughtful, intelligent four-legged friends.