Study validates dog owners claiming they know what their dog thinks

You're not crazy, dog-lovers. You really can read your pooch's expression — a new study totally backs you up. Tina Bloom, a researcher at Walden University, photographed a 5-year-old Belgian shepherd and trained police dog named Mal responding to different stimuli. He looked happy when praised, mournful when reprimanded, surprised by a jack-in-the-box and disgusted by horrid-tasting medicine. Bloom showed these pictures to volunteers. Some responses (disgust) were harder to spot, but 88 percent of participants recognized Mal's happy face, and 70 percent could tell when he was mad. People who didn't own dogs were better than dog owners at deciphering some canine expressions, suggesting it may be an innate skill, rather than a learned one. [Source]

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