Many of us who ride and work with horses have likely experienced how our emotions can affect the interactions with our four-legged companions, whether it's during riding, groundwork, or simply while grooming or feeding them. What causes this phenomenon?
Over the past few years, significant scientific evidence has emerged showing that pet dogs can perceive and respond to our feelings. Whether we attribute this to a biological necessity for survival in a symbiotic relationship or label it as empathy, depends largely on our worldview. However, the idea that pet dogs understand our emotions won't be surprising to anyone who has ever owned a dog.
