Talking dog

This week I read an interesting news article stating that Yap-lication unlocks canine moods.

The nuances of a dog’s barks, howls, yaps and growls can now apparently be discerned by a new computer program developed by Hungarian scientists. The software is said to distinguish the emotional reaction of 14 dogs of the Hungarian Mudi breed. After analysing 6,000 barks, it aims to determine when a dog has seen a ball, when it is fighting, playing, meeting a stranger or when it wants a walk.

However, if you read the article a bit clearer it goes on to say:

But the scientists admit the technology only just out-performs humans. While the computer correctly recognised the emotional state of 43% of dogs, humans did almost as well with 40%.

I’ve always felt humans do pretty well when it comes to understanding their dogs. The problems usually arise when you ‘over think’. Dogs and humans have lived together for a very long time and it’s inbuilt into both our genes to understand each other to some degree. We know what ‘feed me’ means’ we know what ‘walk me means’ and the biggest one we know what ‘danger’ means. Originally we joined because of the symbiotic relationship of ‘you feed me I guard you’. This is still true now.

Our understanding of dogs is far more than we often realise. How many times has your dog seemingly read your mind about something? How many times with one look do you know what your dog is saying? Whilst, I am all for most technology, to me this software seems a little bit of over kill. Also, the language between a dog and human a fair lot of the time isn’t even audible - it’s body language. Have you ever had it that just without you saying anything your dog knows it’s time to go for a walk and gets excited? Perhaps this is all another sign of humans over thinking the relationship and communication with dogs.