Scenarios: Is it crazy to say dogs sense your emotions?

On the Gee and Ursula show, hosts Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin take listeners’ advice questions and discuss what they think you should do.

Even more scenarios: My husband quit his job but still wants me to get up and make him breakfast

Scenario:

My family thinks I’m nuts. I’m convinced that my dog shows gratitude for the nice things that I do for him. It started a couple of years ago, his water bowl was empty when I got home from work. I felt bad about it, filled it up, and pet him. He drank up that water, then walked over to me, gave me the most gracious look like he was saying thank you, then went back and drank some more water. Since then, I’ve noticed that his behavior has kind of changed. It happens all the time. He shows me gratitude more than anyone in the household. I’ve told my wife this and my friends. They all think I’m nuts. They think that animals have no way of showing emotion, but I think that my dog senses my emotions and actually gives me comfort.

Gee Scott: The guy gets home from work. He noticed his dog’s bowl was empty. He fills his dog bowl up, and the dog is drinking their water. He pets the dog. Afterward, the dog kind of comes over to him with a gracious look, and then goes back over to drink his water. Now every time he comes home, he’s noticed the dog’s affection towards him. It’s almost like he’s always gracious.

Ursula Reutin: No, you’re not crazy. No, you are absolutely correct. That is a superpower that most dogs have. 100% Correct. When I get home, I can always count on Scooter to have his head popping up the window greeting me, he’s always the first one to greet me. Then, he wants me to play catch with him, and he wants me to chase him around the house, and on occasion, I will. I realize now he’s basically training me. But we do a little chase around the table and I say, ‘I’m gonna get you.’ Scooter knows when I’m in a bad mood, he knows when I’m working, and he knows I’m stressed out. Our dogs know when we’re upset, our dogs know when we are sick, our dogs know when we need a little extra love. So no, you’re not crazy.

GS: Just want to make sure, [caller] Paul, we want to get your opinion.

Paul: That’s not crazy at all. Dogs can show affection and they know to, especially if you do the water, food, all that stuff. And if you do that, they remember. My friends who have given my dog a treat, she knows those friends more than the ones that have just stopped by.

GS: No doubt about it.

Listen to Gee Scott and Ursula Reutin weekday mornings from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio, 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.