If you’ve ever started to think your dog acts like you and wondered if you were just imagining it, you’ll be glad to know that it’s not all in your head: dogs can actually take the habits of their owners.
Dr. Ben Schuster, Resident Companion Animal Expert at Budget Direct Pet Insurance, points out that numerous studies have demonstrated the importance of the human-canine bond, a relationship that can benefit both us and our animal companions.
“Dogs have now become a vital part of the human family and as a result many habits have been adopted by our four-legged companions,” says Dr Schuster. “Essentially, they see members of their own human family acting in a certain way and often try to mimic that behavior to be a more involved part of the family.”
And while this all makes sense, there’s also science to back it up. Dr. Schuster explains that when dogs mimic human behavior, their brains gradually build new, stronger “neural pathways,” connections in the brain that allow them to think differently.
“For example, a wild dog may not realize that lying on a sofa can be incredibly comfortable, but when your dog has probably seen you engage in this type of behavior on a regular basis, eventually he realizes that he should try it themselves.It quickly becomes a learned behavior that they picked up by mimicking you.
So, aside from stretching, what other human habits do dogs tend to mimic? Dr. Schuster shares five below.
Dogs can fall asleep at the same time as their masters
“For an animal, sleep is instinctively a matter of safety. If dogs don’t feel safe, they will be reluctant to sleep, as it can make them vulnerable. By seeing you sleeping, a dog can be reassured that the environment is safe enough to let his guard down and relax. However, keep in mind that many dogs’ sleep schedules can be very different from ours, especially puppies, who can require up to 20 hours of sleep per day!
Dogs can have the same meal times as their owners
“I’m sure you’ve heard of the term ‘family dinner’ – well, it turns out dogs have it too. It’s a normal reaction for a dog to want to eat when we do, especially if they are given set times for meals as we often have.Eating when we do helps them feel more involved, but avoid giving them food straight from the table as this can promote undesirable seek-seeking behavior. food or the ingestion of food that may be harmful to them.
Dogs can share their moods with their owners
“If you’ve owned a dog, you’ll understand how empathetic they can often be. We’ve all had occasions where dogs have helped lift our spirits, comforting us during difficult or emotional times. They can also try to adapt to our moods – if you’re feeling energetic or playful, most dogs will enthusiastically associate with it. Likewise, if you’re feeling lazy and prefer to sit all day, most dogs will happily adapt to that (until it’s time to walk, anyway).
Dogs can share personalities with their owners
“Any dog owner will know that their dogs all have unique personalities, but did you know that an owner’s personality and a dog’s personality often mirror each other? Owners who are more outgoing and active will often see this same type of personality in their dog, whereas if you are more reserved and relaxed your dog will be more likely to resemble that.That being said, they are all individuals and although influenced by us, they certainly have distinct personalities that suit them. are clean.
Dogs can talk like their masters
“You’ve probably seen quite a few clips of dogs trying to speak, and while most dogs can’t speak exactly, they definitely pick up on the language of those around them. Although you might not realize it. account, dogs can be multi-lingual and learn commands and words in several different languages, so if you are learning another language or speaking a second language at home, also try to engage your dog with simple commands like “sit or “stay” in another language or even sign language.
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