DO DOGS & HUMANS SHARE AN OBJECTIVE REALITY

DOGS MIGHT BE MAN’S BEST FRIEND BUT THEY DO NOT SEE EYE ON MUCH

Dogs and humans share some aspects of objective reality, such as the shape of features in the physical world around them, but even these shared elements are perceived differently due to distinct sensory capabilities. For instance, dogs lack the colour spectrum of humans, seeing the world primarily in shades of blue and yellow. Additionally, their peripheral vision is broader than that of humans, allowing them to detect movement and potential threats from the sides. Moreover, dogs do not recognise humans by their faces; instead, they rely on other sensory cues for identification.

However, other sensory experiences diverge even more significantly between dogs and humans. For example, dogs possess an extraordinary sense of smell, estimated to be tens of thousands of times more sensitive than humans. They utilise their sense of smell much like humans use vision, navigating their world by scent rather than sight. If you were to "nose blind" your dog, they would struggle to find their way back home.

Although dogs understand and respond to a limited set of spoken commands or words, they do not understand words and rely extensively on body language to convey emotions and intentions. For example, using their posture, facial expressions, tail position, and ear orientation. They also communicate through scent, leaving markers to convey information about their identity, territory, and even their emotional state to other dogs.

In essence, while both dogs and humans exist within the same physical reality, their subjective experiences of that reality differ profoundly. They don't perceive or interact with the world in the same way. This underscores the unique sensory perspectives of these two species, highlighting that there is no objective reality shared between man and his bestest of mates.