Random Dogs Do Feel Jealousy (9 items)

• 

  (#5) They Can Also Be Jealous Of Each Other

  Dr. Christine Harris was inspired to study jealousy in dogs after observing her parents' three border collies during a visit home. When she played with only two of the dogs, the third would jump in to get some quality time. The dogs weren't willing to share her attention; they'd try to nose each other out of the way instead of waiting for affection.

  Sometimes, mother dogs even get jealous of their own pups. While female canines do have a maternal instinct, it doesn't last as long as a human's. Once the puppies are old enough to survive without extensive parental care, the mother will view them as she would any other dog - as a threat. Instinctively, older dogs recognize that young puppies are more likely to receive attention than their older counterparts so they respond accordingly. 
• 

  (#2) A Popular Study Demonstrated That Dogs Experience Jealousy

  University of California San Diego psychologist Christine Harris wanted to determine scientifically whether or not dogs experience jealousy. To do so, she adapted a test used on 6-month-old babies. 

  The study, which was published in the Plos One journal, concluded the affirmative. Dog owners were instructed to treat both a toy dog and a jack-o-lantern as if they were real pets. The neglected and animate pets reacted far more strongly when their owners spent time with the toy dog than with the jack-o-lantern. They tried to get in between the toy dog and their owner or tried to endear themselves to their owner. 25% of the dogs even exhibited aggression toward the toy. This indicated that the dogs believed the toys to be real threats.
• 

  (#8) We Can't Say For Sure What Dogs Are Feeling

  While Dr. Harris's study certainly indicates that dogs experience jealousy, it's important to realize that they don't experience it in exactly the same way as humans. It can't be addressed in the same way either. In an interview with NPR, Dr. Harris said the following:

  We don't know what the dog is feeling. What we are looking at are behaviors that would look like they were indicative of a motivational state of jealousy. And because of the tight control of the study, we do know that the behaviors were different across these three conditions so it's not simply the loss of attention but I also do not want to oversell the study. It's one finding - I think there are many places we could go to do some additional tighter controls - to try to understand more about this.
• 

  (#9) How Should You Handle A Jealous Dog

  While canine jealousy can be cute, it can also be very problematic. If your dog is exhibiting signs of jealousy, there are lots of ways to improve his or her behavior. Here are some tips to get you started.

  1) If your dog is jealous of a person, have that person develop a relationship with your dog. For example, if you just moved in with your significant other, have your significant other feed the dog, take the dog for walks, and spend time petting the dog. Your pet may have less reason to feel jealous if they have a bond with the new person.

  2) Try to stick to a routine as much as possible. Dogs thrive on routine and may act out when it's disrupted. If you have to make a change, implement that change as slowly as possible. 

  3) When a dog exhibits jealous behavior, keep him or her occupied by running obedience cues. Tell your dog to sit and wait for your attention. This not only distracts your dog, it reinforces obedience training as well. 

  4) Use positive reinforcement. Whenever your dog's jealousy trigger is present, give treats or attention to show that good things, not bad things, happen when their trigger is around. Just make sure not to give treats when the dog exhibits jealous behavior, or you'll reward negative behavior.
• 

  (#3) Dogs Might Be The Only Non-Human Animals To Experience Jealousy

  So far, there's no proof that any animals experience jealousy besides humans and dogs. While this could mean that humans and canines are unique in the animal kingdom, it could also mean that there is more research to be done. Dr. Christine Harris and her team suggested that jealousy affects most species that have to compete with their siblings for parental resources. It could also affect species that form bonded mating pairs. Though domestic cats do not bond with their mates, Dr. Harris is considering a study on them; they do have to vie for parental attention. The results could potentially help determine the true causes of jealousy in animals.
• 

  (#7) These Findings Could Have Implications For Humans

  According to Dr. Christine Harris, jealousy is the third-leading cause of non-accidental homicide across cultures. Because jealous feelings can lead to devastating outcomes, it's vital that we gain a clearer understanding of its machinations.

  Some scientists believe that jealousy is an emotion that doesn't require much rational thought. They believe it to be a primordial reaction designed to protect social relationships of all kinds. The more that's understood about how jealousy functions in other species like dogs, the more scientists and psychologists will understand about how it functions in the human race, thus allowing a decrease in the tragedies that are borne from it.

New Random Displays    Display All By Ranking