Although dogs and humans are two different species, they have more things in common than we might think. And no, we are not referring to the obvious similarities we all know (like all mammals share a similar body system); we are taking it to the next level. In this blog, we will prove why dogs really are a man’s best friends.
‘Animals know more than we think, and think a great deal more than we know’ Irene M. Pepperberg
Similarities between animals and humans
-
Socialization. Just like humans, dogs are also social animals who actually choose their friends. If you had the impression that dogs didn’t need to socialize in order to survive, it is completely wrong! Dogs need other beings just like humans. In fact, if you leave puppies unattended during their first days of life, they wouldn’t make it without contact, even if they were properly fed.
2. Blood types. Yes, not only do dogs have different blood types, but they also have more varieties than our A, B, and O. There are 13 different blood types found in dogs, but DEA 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, DEA 3, DEA 4, DEA 5, and DEA 7 are the most common ones. Dogs can be classified as positive or negative for each DEA (dog erythrocyte antigen), and those who are negative for DEA 1.1 are considered Universal doners, but unfortunately, it is the minority of dogs.
3. The instinct to live. Yes, dogs (and all animals) have the instinct to preserve their lives. They experience the world consciously as we humans do, so they ran away from danger and they try, at all costs, to defend their lives. Just like us.
4. Emotions. Dogs are sentient beings, and they can experience different emotions like love, joy, faithfulness, empathy, regret, and fear. That is why many dogs enjoy being cuddled, listening to music, and watching TV. It is also the reason why they eagerly wag their tails when you return home, and why they timidly lower their heads and tails when they do something ‘wrong’.
5. Face recognition. Recognizing an old friend you haven’t seen for a while is not strictly restricted to humans. Dogs not only have self-perception, but they also can recognize and remember the faces of animals and humans for long periods of time. So, if you were wondering if your dog will recognize you after a 2-week-holiday, rest assured!
6. Intelligence. Humans, dogs, and all vertebrates have a central nervous system, which consists of a brain and a spinal cord, and plays a central role in intelligence. In fact, it is very common to compare dogs and two-year-old toddlers, since they share pretty much the same intelligence, self-perception, memory, and understanding of the world. For example, dogs can recognize themselves in the mirror and can learn up to 250 words.
7. Ability to dream. Dogs can experience REM sleep, a.k.a the phase in which dreams take place. It has been scientifically proved that during this phase, dogs recall their daily activities, just like we do. The only difference is that dogs probably dream about a run in the park, a tasty snack, or a furry crush. Anything they have done during the day it’s probably processed during sleep time. You can learn more in our blog Do dogs dream?
Are dogs better than humans?
Even though we share a lot of similarities, there are some things in which our furry friends clearly stand out.
-
Dogs have a natural instinct, and they seriously rely on it. Even though it should also be present in humans, it is usually neglected as we grow up.
-
Barke-Diem. While we humans tend to live worried about the past or the future, dogs have the ability to only live in the present.
- Dogs don’t hold grudges. According to an article published by Penn State University, dogs will forget an experience in about two minutes. Even though they can be triggered by some actions that reminiscence a former experience, it is a natural instinct and not at all resentment.
