As a street-smart dog who’s seen it all, let me give you some tips on sizing up humans the way I do. Ever wondered how to tell if someone’s trustworthy right off the bat? Here are 21 lessons from yours truly on judging people at first sight.
1. Trust Your Gut
If something feels off, it probably is. Always go with your initial gut reaction when meeting someone new.
2. Watch Their Body Language
Check out how they stand and move. Relaxed posture and open gestures usually mean they’re friendly.
3. Listen to Their Voice
It’s not just the words, but the tone. A calm, steady voice is usually a good sign.
4. Look for Consistency
People who say one thing and do another? Avoid them. Consistency is key in knowing someone’s true character.
5. Observe How They Treat Others
Watch how they interact with waiters or other dogs. How they treat others says a lot about them.
6. Notice Their Entrance
Do they walk in with confidence or sneak in quietly? Confidence can be good, but arrogance? Not so much.
7. Eye Contact
Avoiding eye contact can mean they’re nervous or hiding something. Steady eye contact usually means they’re confident and honest.
8. Sense of Smell
Alright, you can’t smell fear like I can, but you can sense it. Nervous people might not be reliable.
9. Sense of Humour
A good laugh goes a long way. Someone who can joke around is likely good company.
10. Check Out Their Friends
You’re known by the company you keep. Look at their friends to get a sense of who they are.
11. Gut Reaction
First impressions matter. How do you feel about them in the first few seconds?
Do they light up when you talk about your favourite things? Shared passions can be a good foundation.
13. Personal Space
Do they respect your space or get too close too fast? Respecting boundaries is important.
14. Compassion
See how they react when someone needs help. Compassionate responses are a good sign of a kind heart.
15. Energy Levels
Do they match your energy or seem off? Being on the same wavelength is important for compatibility.
16. Tone of Voice
Listen to the tone when they speak. Genuine people have a warm and steady tone.
17. Follow-Through
Do they do what they say they will? Reliability is a big deal in any relationship.
18. Handling Stress
Watch how they deal with stressful situations. Staying calm under pressure is a good trait.
19. Patience
Are they patient, or do they get annoyed quickly? Patience is a virtue, my friend.
20. Openness
Do they seem open and honest, or are they guarded? Transparency is a good indicator of trustworthiness.
21. Intuition
At the end of the day, trust your intuition. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.
Trust Your Instincts, Just Like I Do
Take it from me, a dog who’s seen it all—trust your instincts and watch closely. You’ll be a great judge of character in no time.
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / Sjale.
For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy.
