DOGS EMOTIONS – Dogs have the ability to express and feel almost all emotions just like humans. They do not feel more complex emotions such as pretense and guilt, but they can certainly feel sadness, fear, jealousy … Below you can see the range of emotions that our dogs feel:
Happiness
All dog owners know best what mood their pet is in if they know body language in dogs. That dogs feel happy has been proven by observing their behavior, but also by more serious techniques of recording brain activities. A dog that is happy will jump and wag its tail, and happiness can be caused by the presence of the owner, praise, rewards for various games and activities.
Sadness
What is very important is to react as soon as possible if you notice showing sadness in your dog. If you do not react in time, sadness can lead to more serious conditions such as depression. Dogs enjoy contact with their owner or company and if their needs are neglected, problems start. Symptoms of sadness are most often sleep to a much greater extent, loss of interest in normal activities, retreating to lonely corners of the home. Also, depending on the cause of the sadness, these symptoms can be much more drastic, such as whining or howling.
Fear
Fear is a feeling that all intelligent beings have. Many fears are deeply ingrained and can lead to more serious problems if we do not address them in time. It is not uncommon for dogs to have a fear of thunder or lightning, and explosions produced by firecrackers and fireworks are also a common cause for fear. Dogs express fear by lowering their head and ears, pulling their tails under them and generally bending their body position. Also, withdrawing, hiding and asking for help from its owner are a sure sign that the dog feels fear. With more severe forms of fear, the whole body may tremble as well as increased drooling. The dog can very easily show aggression in case it does not find adequate shelter and does not get help from its owner.
Jealousy
A famous saying goes “Jealous as a dog” and owners who own multiple dogs can confirm to you that their pets are fighting among themselves for the owner’s affection. If a new pet or a new member of the household enters your home, dogs will always show jealousy to a greater or lesser extent. This behavior is normal if we understand that a dog shows jealousy if he is not given enough attention. It is extremely important to reduce your pet’s jealousy to a minimum, because it can also be a potential cause of more serious disorders.
Distraction
This emotion is not considered basic, but it is very common in dogs. Dogs have shown that even when they are seemingly very focused on an object or person, they can very easily be distracted. For example, if a dog sniffs and explores an object during a walk, the arrival of another dog will very easily distract his attention and in most cases he will focus his attention on that dog instead of the original object of interest.
In order to have a better relationship with your dog, get to know his habits as well as body language, which can be very subtle. It is necessary to know the nature of the dog, as well as his habits, and of course keep in mind that it is often necessary for you to adjust your behavior to the feelings of your pet.
Read also:
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- WHY DOES MY DOG SLEEP ON ME? MEANING & BEHAVIOR EXPLAINED
- IS DOG SNORING DANGEROUS? SIGNS YOU SHOULD NEVER IGNORE
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