can dogs really tell if someone is a good person?

It’s widely expressed that dogs "just know" if someone is a good or bad person, and it’s funny to think dogs can read minds or really understand human language or dive into our deepest secrets. In reality, dogs are just very intuitive and have learned, over years of domestication, a level of social intelligence that allows them to sense people’s intentions and react accordingly.

Dogs tend to be very observant, looking for patterns and routines and catching onto them quickly. They also notice how people interact with one another and can sense hostility and negativity, as well as happiness and kindness exhibited by humans around them.

Negative emotions and behaviors make dogs feel uneasy, and they will definitely exhibit that uneasiness, especially to their owners. Similar to the way human beings exhibit emotions, dogs use their body language to communicate with people around them. If your dog is feeling uneasy about a situation or a person in specific, they will probably react with their body language to let you know.

For instance, your dog might lower their tail around someone they feel uneasy about. They might also run away or hide from the person in question, or even uncharacteristically bark and cause a fuss or act in an aggressive manner. If your dog shows signs of nervousness or agitation when they encounter someone, it’s a good idea to look deeper into things and evaluate why your pet might be acting in that way. Under normal circumstances, your dog’s instincts could be on point!