Let's Bark About Brains: What Makes Humans Complicated?

Human brains are massive. As if big was better…

Ever wondered about human behavior? It’s not their fault, but their brain’s.

A typical example of inexplicable human behavior…

My client wants to go for a walk. Within less than 10 seconds, I get up from my pillow, stretch and position myself in front of the door. Where I spend the next 5 minutes waiting… while my client checks three different weather apps on her phone and still can’t decide which coat to wear.

Really inexplicable? Not quite. As both human and canine behavior is steered by our brains.

The Brain

Our brain is a squishy gray thing (kind of like a big meatball) that sits between our ears and tells our bodies what to do. When we see a squirrel, it's the brain that makes us bark and chase. When we hear our humans come home, it's the brain that makes our tails wag so hard we could probably take flight. Humans have brains, too. But whilst similar in structure, there are some differences that impact what they do and how.

Same basic setup

Humans and dogs both have what scientists call "the basic package":

• The brain stem (or "survival center"), which handles breathing, heart rate, and other essential stuff we don't think about.

• The cerebellum, which helps us to learn and coordinate movements. It also helps us learn tricks, like catching a ball, shaking paw, or rolling over (silly, but great to get treats).

• The limbic system - a complex network of brain structures located between the cerebral cortex and the brainstem - which gets involved in plenty of things, from processing emotions to memory formation, learning and motivation, and - last not least! - processing smells. The scent of neighbor’s cat, your motivation to set off and find her, the thrill of the chase, but also the unpleasant memory of her claws on your nose… your limbic system has a say in it.

• The cerebral cortex, the outermost layer of the brain, including the frontal lobe. This area, located right behind the forehead, is sort of the latest in brain development. It supports some of the more complicated cognitive functions, like memory, thinking, learning, reasoning, and problem-solving. It also hosts an area that helps us make sense of human speech.

So far, so good. Let’s zoom in at some of the differences.

The human brain: As if big was better…

• Big is not always better:
  Our canine brains are highly efficient. With a brain-body ratio of 1:125, a dog’s brain is the equivalent of an iPhone mini: Fast, smart and lightweight. Humans, in comparison, have a brain-body ratio of 1:40. Their brains are huge, and their cerebral cortex has a lot more folds and neurons than ours. Is this cool? I doubt it. If our brains are like smart phones, the human brain is a 1990 desktop PC. Oversized, slow, and of limited use.

• No sense of smell:
  While our olfactory system - the brain area that help us make sense of smells - accounts for 2% of our brain total weight, it’s only 0,03% in humans. No wonder they’re helpless locating rabbit holes, bones buried in the garden, or even the way back home in unknown terrain.

• Huge frontal lobes:
  In dogs, that front part involved in more complex thinking occupies about 10% of our brain. In humans it takes up about one-third! Their whole cerebral cortex is out of proportion, and since it’s there, humans think they must constantly use it. As a result, humans do…

  • Overthink even simple situations.

  • Get lost in abstract concepts.

  • Waste time thinking about tomorrow, next week, or even next year.

  • Create complicated plans and scenarios in their heads - rather than just do things.

So what?

Whenever you’re dealing with humans, remember: their peculiar brain is both their strength and their weakness. They can come up with amazing ideas (think squeaky toys - brilliant!), but can also get stuck in what I call the "overthinking obstacle".

When coaching two-legged clients, try to help them…

• Stay present (Nothing beats a well-timed paw on the knee to bring them back to the moment)

• Trust their instincts more (We're experts at this!)

• Remember the simple joys (A lesson we teach every time we get excited about dinner)

• Take breaks (Try the "It's time for a walk" intervention)

As canine leaders, our simpler, more focused brains are our superpower. We see what really matters while humans get lost in their complex thoughts.

Leverage the emotional connection

Despite their complex brains, humans share something important with us: the capacity for deep emotional bonds.

Their limbic system might be buried under layers of useless neocortex, but it's still there, and it works just like ours. This is our secret weapon in leading them: While they're busy with their complex thoughts, we can reach straight to their hearts.