9 special abilities that show how smart dogs really are

I enjoy reading and sharing information about research involving dogs and their cognitive abilities.

Business Insider Malaysia has published a good synopsis of research in the area with references to the relevant studies.

The 9 special abilities are:

1. Dogs feel empathy
2. Dogs make eye contact
3. With eye contact, they form a special bond with humans
4. Dogs see humans as part of their family
5. And they interact with us as if they were children
6. Dogs understand gestures, like pointing
7. Dogs brains react to human voices
8. Some dogs can learn new words the way children do
9. And some dogs have the ability to generalize

Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand