Are dogs jealous?

Affectionate, helpful and loyal like few others, this is how our companions, dogs, have been rightly defined as man's best friends since we find in them one of the best companies, forming a very deep emotional bond that we can rarely define. with words.

Surely you have been able to observe in your dog behaviors that seem very human and you should not forget that dogs are also capable of building complex social structures, in addition to generating a lot of empathy with what we feel and transmit.

Perhaps you have ever wondered Do dogs feel jealous? This is the question that we address in the following animal expert article.

1. Emotions shared by humans and dogs
2. The Jealousy Test
3. How do dogs show that they are jealous?
4. What are dogs jealous of?
5. Prevent jealousy in dogs

Emotions shared by humans and dogs

Dogs are capable of dreaming during the phases of deep sleep, dogs also have a certain structure of thought , so why shouldn't they feel the emotions that we consider to be unique to human beings?

Our dog friends are not only capable of showing empathy towards what we feel, but they also have emotions that we can recognize in us:

• Crying
• Sadness
• Joy
• Restlessness
• Jealousy

Yes, dogs are also capable of feeling jealous as a consequence of a complex social structure and it is believed that this jealousy serves an important function: to preserve the relationship they have with their owner .

The Jealousy Test

A team of researchers from the University of San Diego, led by psychologist Christine Harris, were in charge of carrying out a study in order to determine if dogs were capable of feeling jealous, the results were surprising.

The behavior of 36 dogs of different breeds was studied. When their owners interacted with different objects, such as three-dimensional children's books, the dogs were indifferent, however, when the owners interacted with stuffed animals that imitated a dog, the mechanism of jealousy was activated and some pets even tried to break the connection between its owner and what they considered a canine rival.

How do dogs show that they are jealous?

When a dog is jealous, the behavior changes are very evident and also surprising, they can be observed in the following way:

• Barking and grunting
• Very agitated tail movement
• Mechanisms to interpose between the loved one and the one who is considered a rival
• Anxiety and restlessness

This behavior shows that dogs fear losing their owner's attention and going to the second or third level , so they do everything possible to separate their rival, in the experiment, in addition to barking, it was very common for dogs to The dogs studied will push the stuffed dog and stand between it and its owner.

What are dogs jealous of?

Although the study focused on the dog's behavior in the face of a canine rival, if you share your life with a pet of these characteristics, you will know that they can feel jealous in any situation in which they do not get your full attention , such as the following:

• Living with another dog
• Living with another pet
• Shows of affection with the partner
• Shows of affection with children
• The arrival of a baby

If your dog feels that you divert your attention and your displays of affection to a third party , he will feel jealous and believe that it is necessary to protect his relationship with you.

Prevent jealousy in dogs

Preventing a dog from entering a state of jealousy will also help you to prevent possible alterations in its behavior and to enjoy a more harmonious coexistence , for this, the following tips will be very useful:

• Don't treat your dog like a child
• Socialize your pet early
• Educate the dog properly, establishing clear limits
• Eradicate aggressive and possessive behaviors from the puppy stage

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