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Canine Cognition terms
What dogs think and feel.
Critical socialization period The early weeks of a puppy's life, roughly 3 to 12 weeks, when it learns most easily to accept new people, animals and places. Pointing comprehension A dog's ability to follow a human finger point to find hidden food, a skill researchers study to learn how dogs read people. Social learning Learning a behavior by watching another dog or a person do it, which dogs can do in some situations. Theory of mind The ability to understand that others have their own knowledge, wishes and beliefs, which research suggests dogs may show only in limited ways. Jealousy A jealous-like reaction some dogs show when an owner gives attention to a rival, which researchers still debate how to interpret. Play Voluntary, energetic and usually social activity that dogs do for fun, including chasing, wrestling, tugging and bowing. Dog vision How dogs see, which is less sharp than people, with a limited range of colors, but better in low light and at spotting movement. Hearing range The span of sound pitches dogs can hear, reaching to about 45,000 Hz compared with roughly 20,000 Hz for people. Nosework A dog sport in which dogs search rooms, vehicles, outdoor areas and containers for a specific trained odor and alert their handlers. Scent work Any activity in which a dog uses its nose to find a target odor, from backyard hide-and-seek games to trained detection jobs. Sense of smell A dog's main sense, thousands of times more sensitive than ours by some estimates, with far more scent receptors and a dedicated airflow in the nose. Vomeronasal organ A small scent-sensing organ in the roof of a dog's mouth and nose that detects chemical signals such as pheromones.