Signs Your Pet Is Smarter Than You Think

Okay, maybe it’s my paranoia kicking in, but do you ever think that your dog is smarter than they pretend to be? They tilt their heads at just the right moment, they sigh when you sigh, they know when you’re sad, or sick, or sneaking into the kitchen at midnight.

Riesling (my dog) may not have a PhD in psychology or a résumé besides chasing squirrels away from my pumpkins in the fall and sunflowers in the spring, but she’s got something better. She’s got a front-row seat to my life…and a brain that’s quietly absorbing more than you realize.

This post is for every dog parent, cat whisperer, and “she only listens to me” parrot companion who’s ever thought: Wait…how did they know that?

I’m determined to prove with science (and maybe a little silliness) that there are signs that your pet might be way smarter than they’re letting on.

They Read Your Emotions Like a Book

If your dog snuggles closer when you cry, or your cat gives you a slow blink when you’re anxious, it’s not coincidence. Riesling literally sits in my lap the entire time I’m doing telehealth therapy but relaxes on her little bed when I’m blogging even though I’m sitting at the same computer.

Animals, especially dogs, are emotionally attuned to their humans. In one study by the University of Lincoln, dogs could somehow distinguish between happy and angry human facial expressions and matched them with the corresponding tone of voice.

That means your pet isn’t just recognizing tone, they’re matching facial emotion + sound + body language probably better than all those AI bots that are surveilling you. (Too paranoid of me? Okay, fair).

Think about that for a minute though, because it’s way more impressive than you think.

Your dog might not speak English, but they speak you.

They Manipulate You (Lovingly)

Does your dog “fake pee” just to get a treat? Riesling does this. Especially when it’s raining outside and she wants me to let her back in but I tell her she will stay out there until she goes to the bathroom.
Or does your cat meow in a specific tone when you’re on Zoom calls even though they seem to know there are other people who can here them?

That’s not habit, that’s strategy.

A study in Animal Cognition showed that pets actually learn cause and effect from their human interactions. If sitting gets praise, then they sit. If pawing your face gets attention, they’ll repeat it because they want your attention. If ignoring you makes you panic, well…they might do that too.

They’re testing boundaries like toddlers, and most of the time, they’re also winning.

They Recognize Themselves…Kind Of

Self-awareness in animals is a complicated topic according to Google when I tried looking into it, usually it’s tested through the “mirror test”, which is basically whether an animal can recognize its own reflection. In some cases they put a dot on the animal’s head and if they look in the mirror and touch their head then they can tell that it’s them in the reflection and they have something on their head that shouldn’t be there.

While dogs typically fail this test, they pass the “sniff test” with flying colors. Basically, they discovered that dogs could distinguish their own scent from another’s and showed more interest in modified versions of their own scent, suggesting some type of form of olfactory self-recognition.

Cats though, they’re trickier. They may not pass mirror tests, but they often show spatial awareness and territory mapping that implies self-reference. They know where they stop and the world begins. And some cats showed signs of passing the mirror test, but having no interest in taking it…how cat-like.

They Plan Ahead

Some pets aren’t just reacting, they’re actually anticipating things as well.

Ravens and crows, for instance, have shown the ability to store tools for future use, choosing the right tool hours in advance, even rejecting instant treats in favor of something they’ll need later. That’s delayed gratification, which is known as executive function, and honestly a huge sign of intelligence.

Dogs too have shown signs of anticipating future events, like hiding toys for later or standing at the door before you grab your keys.

They’re not psychic, they’re just observant and can pick up on some patterns they see repeated.

One of the most delightful signs of pet intelligence is creativity like dogs flipping puzzle toys upside-down to get food faster, or cats opening cabinets or using boxes as ladders, sometimes parrots even learn sequences of color or number games.

Even if your pet doesn’t have formal training, their ability to solve everyday problems (especially social ones) is a huuge sign of intelligence.

If you’ve ever caught your pet doing something they weren’t taught, congratulations, they’re thinking things through for themselves.

Complex Social Bonds

Animals don’t just tolerate us, they love us, deeply. Eh, that’s what science says and also what feels right in my heart, so hopefully it’s not them just manipulating us more.

MRI studies on dogs show similar brain responses to human infants when interacting with their owners (the dog’s owners, not the kids’, that’s just their parents). That means your dog’s bond with you is more than pack instinct, it’s love, chemically and neurologically.

Cats, once thought aloof, also show preference for their humans over food, toys, or strangers in controlled environments.

Birds mourn, rabbits bond, horses nuzzle to comfort, elephants grieve…these aren’t just behaviors, they’re relationships.

Dogs also learn words and how to communicate in their own ways. One of the most famous examples is Chaser, the border collie who understood over 1,000 nouns and could combine commands like “fetch” and “ball” to execute new instructions. But even if your dog only knows “walk” and “cookie,” they’re still making connections between symbols (words) and real-life experiences.

Cats are subtler, but in a 2019 study, they were able to recognize their owners' voices and names, they just didn’t always respond. (Classic cat.)

Even your pet recognizing the sound of your car or your footsteps is auditory memory in action.

They Feel Jealousy, Guilt, and Sympathy

These are advanced emotions.

Dogs have been observed displaying jealous behavior when their owner gives attention to another dog. They’ll insert themselves between you. Paw, bark, whine. They know what social bonds look like…and they want theirs protected.

Cats have been seen comforting grieving humans or bringing toys to the sick.

Your pet might not write sonnets or their dissertation, but they do feel.

We also think we train our pets, but often, they train us to feed them at specific times, to give affection when they want it (hello Riesling nudging my hand whenever she wants pets), to change routines, sleep positions, or even habits based on their comfort.

That’s not dominance, that’s influence. That’s intelligence on a bigger scale. Your pet is shaping your behavior…just as you shape theirs.

How to Nurture Your Pet’s Intelligence

Your pet’s brain is a muscle…and like all muscles, it needs exercise.

Try puzzle toys, training games (even old dogs love new tricks!), new environments for stimulation (aka go for a walk somewhere new), scent trails or hide-and-seek with treats, and even conversations…yes, talk to them. They know more than you think. (So do your houseplants!)

You don’t need a clicker or agility course, you just need some plain old curiosity and time to devote to your best friend.

You’re Living With a Genius

Your pet might never solve a math problem, but they do solve you.

They know how to find you in the house, how to get your attention, how to comfort you when no one else knows how, and to love you not with language but loyalty.

So next time they look at you a little too long, wag before you say “walk,” or jump up just as you’re thinking about them, remember this: you’re sharing your life with a genius.
One with fur or feathers, maybe scales, who chose you back.

And they’ve always known more than they let on.