A dog’s sense of smell is much more powerful than a human’s. And dogs don’t just sniff scents, they sniff stories. When a dog smells a person, a sneaker another dog rubbed against, or sofa that someone sat on, they learn a lot more than what things smell like.  A dog’s nose can detect if you’re a boy or a girl, what foods you’ve eaten, where you’ve been, what you’ve touched, and what’s touched you. Dogs can tell if a scent is old or new, which helps them tell time. Dogs can even smell your feelings! 

Instead of using spoken language, dogs rely on body language – theirs and ours. A wagging tail or jumping up can signal a dog’s excitement, bared teeth and growling equal aggression, and drooping ears and a sagging tail can mean sadness. Dogs don’t understand most human language, especially when it’s not directed at them. When two humans are speaking, most dogs hear only gibberish (though sometimes a dog who’s really paying attention might pick up his own name or a favorite word like “treat”). Typically, dogs only learn human language directed at them such as their name and often-used phrases like, “Let’s go!” and “Come here.” Even though a dog doesn’t understand our spoken language, dogs can pick up your meaning by how your voice sounds. Dogs can tell if your voice is happy, sad, excited, or angry. Dogs can also read your body language and are well aware if you’re sweating and trembling (nervous and upset) or standing tall and straight (proud and confident). This dog's body language is saying, "I'm ready to play!" Though humans might think dogs understand what we’re saying, they’re actually just picking up the feeling behind our words. 

Because dogs depend on humans for most of their needs, they are carefully tuned into our routines and habits. They pick up on cues and learn to associate one event with another. For example, when you head over to the leash – even before you grab it – your dog knows it’s time for a walk. When you open the cabinet – even before you reach for the dog food – your dog knows it’s suppertime. And when you glance at the tennis ball, your dog’s tail wags in anticipation of a game of fetch. Dogs are always studying humans, noticing patterns as well as changes in the ways our actions relate to them. Dogs anticipate familiar activities and are curious about (and maybe even worried about) new ones. Dogs can’t understand the rest of humans’ lives, such as going to school, watching a show, or doing homework. The most dogs know is that we have lives that don’t include them and they are typically not happy about that!