Online Community Debates Whether Dogs Can Sense If Someone Is a Dog Person

If you know anything about dogs, then you'll understand that they have amazing senses and can do incredible things with them, which makes them so effective as police dogs. With that said, one question we're exploring today is whether dogs can sense if someone is a dog person or not. Dr. Ramani Durvasula, a clinical psychologist, suggests that "dogs are incredibly attuned to human emotions and can pick up on subtle cues that indicate how someone feels about them." This insight leads us to believe that dogs may indeed treat someone differently based on whether they perceive them as a dog person or not. Many people online have shared their thoughts on this topic, and it’s fascinating to consider how dogs might sense our emotional states. We’re going to examine what everyone had to say to gain insight into what dogs might sense when meeting people. So, let's dive in and check out the full question and answers to see what people had to say when responding to the question about dogs and whether they can sense if someone is a dog person.

This is the question - plain and simple.

Quora

People shared personal stories, drawing from their experiences and insights.

I have to say no, not always.My Rottweiler, named Munchen, was at times pure evil; he would take an instant dislike to anyone wearing black, anyone in a hat, anyone in uniform or a white coat, anyone who owned a dog, or people who claimed to love dogs.The dislike manifested itself as a deep rumbling growl, followed by a warning bite (not breaking the skin) if the person didn't take the hint and back off. He was huge, so almost everyone backed off.I would warn all visitors to the house not to approach or stare at the dog, as he was generally okay if left alone. If it seemed he was taking an exception to anyone, we would lock him upstairs out of the way.For the eleven years that he lived, we were constantly alert to the safety of other people, and it worked—he never hurt anyone, although a few might have wished they had been wearing brown trousers.When my elderly aunt came to stay, I was worried because she most definitely was not an animal person; she wouldn't even go for a walk in the country in case she encountered any wildlife or farm animals. She was convinced that all cows were out to kill her.When I was a teenager and had pet rats, she wouldn't come to the house, even though they were in a cage in my bedroom. Anyway, I told her not to look Munchen in the eyes, as he took that as a challenge, not to touch him (I knew she wouldn't do that), and just to ignore him if possible.From the first moment he saw her, Munchen was in love. For the two weeks she was with us, he sat quietly by her side until she had the courage to gently pat his head, and he just leaned into her with his eyes closed.The next time she visited, he got very excited to see her and insisted on escorting her around the house and gardens, always being very gentle and gazing adoringly at her. I believe that dog would have defended her with his life.Janet Bristow

We agree that this is how dogs read our emotions.

One of the changes that made dogs into man’s best friend was their ability to read emotions in human faces. They know when you’re happy, they know when you’re upset, and they know if you’re the kind of person who likes dogs.My lifestyle doesn’t permit me to own a dog, but I have treats in my pocket, and even the dogs I encounter who don’t know me know a sucker when they see one.
Rik Elswit

We agree that dogs can sense a good person from a bad one.

I would have said yes until I read the answer from “Pooch’s” owner. That makes me think it’s not so much that the person isn’t a dog person, but that the person is a good person.I definitely believe a dog knows the difference between good and bad people. My ex had a friend who would come over and always talked to and tried to pet my dog. She would go nuts and start biting his ankles and chasing him. I had to hold her every time he came over.Sonya Wilson

This is another good perspective.

I am not sure whether or not they can sense who is a dog person. But I do believe they can sense whether or not a person is trustworthy. Dogs, and even cats, will cozy up to individuals they feel comfortable being around, even if they have just met.John Hansen

We must agree that there are many factors to consider here, and most people do agree that dogs possess some sort of sense. While they may not always know whether someone is a dog person, they definitely can distinguish a good person from a bad person.