Asperger's and Animals

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Do people with Asperger's have trouble reading the body language of dogs and cats?

I can read the body language of cats very well, but I have trouble reading the body language of dogs. We've never had a dog, but I've always had a cat so I think this is why. Also, I have an interest in cats so I've read s couple books on cat body language.

I know when a cat's ears are down the tail is swishing its angry. And when a dog is wagging its tail its happy, and when it shows its teeth its angry. But that's about it.

I find animals a lot easier to read than humans. Pet's motivations seem a lot less complex.
Given a choice, I would rather meet new cats and dogs than people.

No.

It's like any other relationship: I can read the body language of an animal with whom I am properly acquainted. I can read parrot body language very well; I grew up keeping and studying parrots and I can understand their mannerisms quite well. They are exceptionally expressive creatures.

I can tell the body language of animals better than I can tell that of people.

I read an awesome book about that, "Animals in Translations: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior." I'm convinced autism helps us read animals better than a NT brain. My brain sucks at reading facial expressions and such, so I figure out how someone is feeling using everything I know about the person and if they're acting unusually or not. The NT brain cannot help but "read" the facial expressions of their pets like people, so they often incorrectly place people's emotions instead of animals ones for their pets. Also, animals don't think in words and are visual creatures, something I can relate to. I'm great with pets, way better than most people. I've literally have had dogs come up to sniff me and wanted scratches, and then their owner notices and are shocked because they have never seen their cowardly dog walk to a stranger before. I've also done stuff like train my cat to go down a slide, I wish it was this easy for me to read people emotions too.

I'm another here who feels like I can read the body language of animals way better than that of humans. I agree with iammaz that it's probably because animals motivations are a lot less complex and more straightforward.

With most species, there also aren't as many facial expressions to get your head around, as there are with humans. And humans mask and fake their body language probably more of the time than not -- it seems to come naturally to humans to do a lot of "what's expected" body language than real stuff that shows their real feelings, whereas animals mostly just act out whatever they really feel.

There's less to learn and remember in animal behaviors, and what you see is what you get.

I'm the cat whisperer of the house. I understand cats and their body language, and cats understand me. I can call any cat to approach me, and 98% of them will, even if they've never seen me before. They seem to be able to just sense it in my eyes or something. Cats just seem to instantly know that I'm very friendly and gentle.

I can usually get past the puppy dog innocent eyes, since said dog is usually thinking "SUCKER!! !! !! !! !! "

My GF is convinced that I have a special abilty with animals , she cannot put into words what it is. I have an afinity with animals and definately prefer their company but dont see it as an ability.

I've been able to read animals - all of them - for as long as I can remember. Too bad humans are not so obvious.