The Power of Observation, is it really that hard?

by affiliate, Alison McHendry

Sometimes you are asked to watch your dog and let someone, a vet or behaviourist, know what you are seeing; but what does this actually mean; why is it so difficult; what can we do to improve it; and where would better observation skills be useful?

Firstly, we use so many words for this, you may be asked to: watch, look, see, observe; and we group these all together to mean the same thing, but are they?

To watch: this usually means to watch something in action or motion;

To see: you see naturally without thinking about it;

To look: you look to focus and concentrate;

To observe: something that you have learned by seeing or watching something and thinking about it;  Collins Dictionary.

Why is it difficult for us to give accurate observation?

Firstly, it’s not our fault, it is the way our brains are programmed to work.  Humans often struggle with accurate observation, and interpreting these for a number of reasons: cognitive limitations, biases and the complexity of perception.  What does this actually mean? 

It means, we have:

1. Selective Attention, whereby our brains only focus on a limited amount of information, meaning some details are notices, while others; sometimes important details, are missed.          

2. Memory Distortion: our brains are not set up to record what is happening perfectly, but to reconstruct what we saw, which is distorted over time, influenced by new information, emotions and other memories.

3. Cognitive Biases: whereby we favour information that confirms our existing beliefs and hindsight bias; where we see events as having been predictable after they have happened.

4.       Cognitive Overload: our brains get overwhelmed observing complex tasks, especially where the information is happening quickly or lots happening all at once.  When this happens, it is difficult for our brains to process and understand what was observed.

If asked, do you think you would say you had good, or really good observation?

Take this quick test:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vJG698U2Mvo (Selective attention test by Simons and Chabris 1990)

Did you know that eyewitness testimony is extremely flawed, so if you did not get the questions in the test correct, you are not alone!

Alexandra Horowitz, a cognitive scientist specialising in canine cognition, provides us with some key pointers:

1.       Understand that dogs primarily experience the world through their sense of smell, and recognising this can help humans better interpret canine behaviour. 

Reference: Horowitz, A. (2009). "Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know."

2.       Use objective and systematic observation methods when observing dog behaviour, to avoid emotional biases and focusing on measurable and observable actions. 

Reference: Horowitz, A. (2016). "Being a Dog: Following the Dog Into a World of Smell."

3.       It is important to understand the context in which a behaviour occurs, as this is crucial for accurate interpretation. Horowitz states that behaviours can have different meanings depending on the situation, the individual dog's history, and the specific environmental conditions. 

Reference: Horowitz, A. (2009). "Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know."

4.       Canine Communication is important for us to understand as dogs communicate with each other and humans through body language, vocalisations, and other behaviours. Horowitz states that recognising these forms of communication can improve human understanding of dog needs and emotions. 

Reference: Horowitz, A. (2009). "Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know.

How could we OBSERVE dogs?

a)       We could start by writing down the what, what is the dog doing?  In animal behaviour studies, observers use standardised ethograms to record behaviour.  In our homes, we could record how many times our dogs sleep curled up, spread out, on their left/right side; where are they sleeping, on the floor, on their bed etc.  We just note down what the dog is doing in that moment.

b)       We can use our phones to record what dogs are doing?  This helps us to capture the behaviour and review, allowing us to analyse the behaviour; and can be especially useful to show the vet or behaviourist and it can be used with the number of times observed in (a).   

c)        We can note what we no longer see i.e. what did the dog use to do that they are no longer doing; no longer jumping up on the sofa; no longer playing etc.  The lack of their norm can be an extremely important observation.

d)       When we are observing the behaviour, do not interrupt the dog, allow them to undertake the behaviour as naturally as they can; as just being there will alter the behaviour in some way.

e)       Practice, Practice, Practice.

f)        If someone is learning how to observe better, is important to give them constructive feedback; what is the observer doing well and where they need improvement.  This can help reinforce learning and correct misunderstandings.

Just remember:

To acquire knowledge, one must study; but to acquire wisdom, one must observe.     Marilyn Von Savant