Our dogs feel.
Dogs experience emotions as deeply as we do, though they express them in ways unique to their species.
Research shows that dogs process emotions in ways strikingly similar to humans. Gregory Berns, a neuroscientist who studied dogs using MRI scans, found that their brains' caudate nucleus lights up when they experience positive emotions. This part of the brain is the same in humans, linking dogs’ emotional experiences to our own.
Joy, love, fear, sadness, and even jealousy play a role in our dogs' daily lives. Let's take a look at a couple of those emotions here.
Canine Jealousy
Research from the University of Auckland sheds light on dogs’ emotional complexity, suggesting they may experience jealousy. In a study led by Amalia Bastos, dogs reacted strongly when their owners interacted with a fake dog, even if the interaction was out of sight. This behaviour wasn’t replicated when the owners interacted with an inanimate object, like a fleece cylinder.
The study found three key signs of jealousy: dogs responded only to interactions with a perceived social rival, their behaviour was tied to the interaction rather than presence alone, and it occurred even without visual cues.
A wagging tail paired with soft eyes and a relaxed posture speaks of happiness and contentment, while a tucked tail, flattened ears, or avoiding gaze can reflect fear or unease.
These signs are our window into how they feel, a silent yet expressive language we can learn to understand.
Our Dogs Do Love Us
Dogs also experience love, not just for us but for other dogs and animals in their world. Science supports this too—when dogs spend time with their favourite humans, their oxytocin levels rise. This “love hormone” is responsible for the powerful bonds they share with us.
When dogs gaze into their person's eyes, a biological process unfolds. Both the dog and the human experience a significant increase in oxytocin, commonly called the "love hormone."
This hormone plays a crucial role in social bonding and emotional attachment. In a study by Nagasawa et al. (2015), researchers measured oxytocin levels in dogs and humans during mutual eye contact. They found that oxytocin levels rose by 130% in dogs and an astonishing 300% in humans, comparable to the bond formed between mothers and their babies when gazing at each other.
This oxytocin-fueled connection is a likely explanation for the deep emotional bonds we feel with our dogs. It creates trust and attachment while reinforcing bond building relationships. Incredibly, this hormonal release might even lead to tears of joy. Murata et al. (2022) discovered that dogs could cry during reunions with their owners after a period of separation, much like humans when reconnecting with someone they deeply love.
These findings suggest that the emotional systems involved in parent-child bonding may also play a role in the powerful connection between dogs and their humans. While dogs may not love in the same way humans do, the evidence strongly supports the idea that their bonds with us are deeply emotional and biologically significant.
By recognising and respecting their emotions, we give our dogs the chance to feel safe, seen, soothed, and secure.
Observe From A Place Of Knowledge
Our dog's body language will always tell us how they feel, we need to learn as much about it as possible to fully communicate with our canine friends. A wagging tail isn’t always happiness, just as a bark isn’t always alarm. It’s up to us to notice the subtleties and respond in ways that nurture trust and confidence.
Our dogs’ emotional world is complex, beautiful, and deeply tied to their wellbeing.
When we take the time to learn their language, they feel understood, and that understanding strengthens the connection we share. In recognising their feelings, we create a harmonious and empathetic relationship, one where our dogs feel truly safe.
Learn More
Join me on the 16th December (7pm BST) for a live webinar on the depth of canine emotions. During this webinar we consider what research has shown about canine emotions and how we can incorporate that understanding into everyday life with our beautiful dogs.
References:
Andics, A., Gácsi, M., Faragó, T., Kis, A., & Miklósi, Á. (2014). Voice-sensitive regions in the dog and human brain are revealed by comparative fMRI. Current Biology, 24(5), 574-578.
Applebaum, J. W., Peek, C. W., & Zsembik, B. A. (2020). Examining US pet ownership using the General Social Survey. The Social Science Journal, 1-10.
Berns, G. S., Brooks, A. M., & Spivak, M. (2015). Scent of the familiar: An fMRI study of canine brain responses to familiar and unfamiliar human and dog odors. Behavioural processes, 110, 37-46.
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