Whether they use these instincts to judge human character, however, is debated — though many seem to have personal stories which attest that they do! Even so, some dogs struggle with anxiety around strangers and may not be able to settle down … Follow the old saying: “if your dog doesn’t like someone, you probably shouldn’t either.” Besides, why would you want to be friends with someone your best friend doesn’t like? My advice? I tell him it's bedtime and he picks up his pillow or blankie if either has been stolen from his bed during the day. Each puppy has a discernable personality that can be judged at 7 weeks of age. Due to this, they don’t exhibit the same bodily reactions when they display aggressive or … The researchers concluded that dogs are indeed able to judge human behavior and can tell if a person is being nasty to another person. Do You Think Your Dog Is A Good Judge Of Character? Dogs can determine when people are being nice and when they aren't, according to a scientific study. The next time your dog refuses a treat from a stranger know you should probably be wary of them too. Does she steal the […] While I’m of the opinion that dogs are an excellent judge of character, I also think it’s important to keep in mind that there could be other factors at play. So, long story short, dogs have far better instincts than people. When you’re choosing a puppy from a litter pay attention to personality type: Bully: On first glance, the bully may seem overtly social and interactive. Share. Dogs judge our mindset based on the emotions we display, such as fear, anxiety, or anger, but a psychopath doesn’t display these in appropriate situations. You may think “Good, that one has spirit.” However, keep watching. 'We can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals," opined Kant; but you don't need an 18th century German philosopher to tell you that. Your dog … Plus, recent studies show that they are a great judge of character too. So, now dogs can help your understand people too. Jul 11th 2017 7:12AM. Though domestic dogs have lived side-by-side with humans for thousands of years, they can still operate from instinct like their wild brethren. The bottom line is that wherever dog intuition comes from, dogs are a good judge of character. I can't say that I have had a lot of sleazy characters in my life, so I can't comment on that, but my dogs are experts at the human training tricks. Quinn, our Airedale, and I have a nightly routine. Dogs turning their noses up to people who mistreat their owners is different than them sensing whether or not someone is immoral or has nefarious intentions. Dogs are people’s best friend. These small studies suggest that dogs can use their ability to read facial expressions, understand social interactions and even their sense of smell to judge people. Ruth Doherty. Your dog may be a better judge of character than you are Skip to main content Dogs can determine when people are being nice and when they aren't, a scientific study shows. Your dog may be a better judge of character than you are.