A MEW PERSPECTIVE: DO CATS AND DOGS ‘UNDERSTAND’ US – HERE ARE THE TELL-TAIL SIGNS

There’s been a lot of research on communication between humans and domestic animals like dogs and cats, but we still don’t have a clear answer to your question. We don’t know exactly what cats and dogs think or if they truly understand us when we use their sounds.

As a veterinarian and animal behaviorist who studies various animals, my view is that we’d need to be very skilled at mimicking meows and barks to truly communicate with our pets. Our vocal cords are different from theirs, and they can tell that the sounds we make aren’t the same as theirs.

However, we do know that dogs can clearly distinguish between different human voices. For example, they can tell when it’s Mila speaking versus when it’s Alex. They are also very sensitive to tone. Dogs tend to respond more positively to high-pitched, friendly voices. And did you know that dogs can even learn words?

Rico, a Border Collie, learned over 200 words representing different items. When asked to “fetch” something, he could select the correct item from a group of objects. While it’s unlikely that Rico understood the meaning of the words themselves, he was excellent at associating specific sounds with certain objects.

When it comes to their own “voices,” studies have shown that both dogs and cats use different vocalizations to convey various messages. For instance, a high-pitched, repetitive bark may indicate that your dog is anxious, while a low-pitched bark may suggest aggression. Cats, too, use different sounds depending on their activities—such as one set of sounds while hunting and another when they’re relaxing.

But their “voices” are just one way in which dogs and cats communicate. They also use body language and tactile gestures  – like coming to you for a pat, or nudging your hand with their nose when they want some attention. In the same way, people also communicate using gestures and facial expressions. Research has shown that dogs are better than other species, like wolves, at interpreting our gestures and facial expressions.

Visual communication

If you have dogs, you’ve probably noticed how attuned they are to our emotions and ways of communicating. This sensitivity is a result of their evolution alongside humans, living closely with us over time.

Cats, while not naturally social animals, also communicate with us and can be surprisingly perceptive about our moods and feelings. Understanding this is key when figuring out the best ways to communicate with both dogs and cats.

Because visual cues are so important to them, it’s likely that they pay more attention to our body language than to the sounds we make in order to interpret what we’re trying to communicate.

Humans primarily rely on language to communicate, which is why we often expect our pets to respond to our words. As we’ve seen with Rico and many other animals, they can learn to do this. However, in many cases, pets are actually responding more to our body language than to our verbal cues. For example, when you tell your dog to sit, most people not only say the word “sit” but also point their finger at the dog, reinforcing the command with a visual signal.

People often think that when a dog sits after hearing the word “sit,” it’s because they understand the command. However, the dog is actually responding to the finger pointing. If you say “sit” without the hand gesture, your dog will likely not sit. This highlights just how crucial body language is for dogs.

I would encourage all pet owners, especially dog owners, to learn more about their pets’ body language to better understand what they’re trying to communicate.

For example, many people believe that a wagging tail always means a dog is friendly. This is only true when the tail wags broadly and the dog’s body is relaxed. If a dog’s tail is held high, with only the tip wagging, it’s actually a signal of “stay away” rather than “let’s play.”

The more you observe and learn about your pet’s body language and the meanings behind different gestures, the easier it will be to communicate with them—no need for “miaows” or barks to understand each other.