Episode Details

Everyone knows that dogs are supposed to be our best friends. Could it be that they know what we are thinking? Whether it's getting excited at the prospect of a walk or knowing that tasty food is coming soon, are our dogs reading our minds?

每个人都知道狗应该是我们最好的朋友。 难道他们知道我们在想什么吗？ 无论是对散步的前景感到兴奋，还是知道美味的食物即将到来，我们的狗会读懂我们的心思吗？

Now, by mind-reading we're not talking about knowing our deepest thoughts in detail, but various psychologists have suggested that dogs might have a theory of mind. What this means is that they are aware that other creatures, like humans, are able to see and understand things in different ways. In various experiments it appears that dogs are able to identify who is paying them attention. They are more likely to ask for food from someone if there is a reason that the human would know where the dog treats are. If dogs have been forbidden food by someone, they are more likely to try and get it quietly.

现在，我们所说的读心术并不是要详细了解我们最深层的想法，但许多心理学家都认为狗可能有一种心理理论。 这意味着他们意识到其他生物，比如人类，能够以不同的方式看待和理解事物。 在各种实验中，狗似乎能够识别谁在关注它们。 如果人类有理由知道狗的食物在哪里，他们更有可能向某人索要食物。 如果有人禁止狗吃东西，它们更有可能尝试悄悄地得到它。

As well as these behavioural studies, there are other things that show how dogs are able to relate closely to humans. Brain imaging studies have shown not only that canine brains react to human voices, but that they also show an emotional response to those human sounds which demonstrate strong feelings, such as laughing or crying. Brain scan studies have also shown that human faces also 

Listen Now