Understanding Your Dog's Emotions

Do you know what your dog is feeling? When they bound over to you with a smile on their face - is that a true reflection of what they feel inside? Can dogs feel emotions like humans do? Dog lovers everywhere want to know. And we’ve combed through the latest studies that provide the answers. The answer to all the above by the way? It turns out, yes - they do!

In this guide, we will break down how your dog thinks, what emotions dogs experience and what your pooch might be feeling at any given moment. (Clue it’s probably ‘walkies?’)

Do dogs feel emotions? Let’s look at the science.

Thankfully, dogs are pretty easy animals to study due to their easygoing nature. And being able to get them in an MRI machine has allowed the study of dog emotion and cognition to come on leaps and bounds. Time and again, researchers have found similarities between human and canine brain activity - and in the shared ability to perceive and express emotion.

Let’s take a closer look...

Dog’s get excited by humans

In a recent study, scientists placed dogs in an MRI to measure their emotional reaction to different stimuli. They found that a human’s presence leads to increased blood flow to a dog’s eyes, ears, and paws - which in emotional terms means the dog is excited. So when they go crazy when they see you? That’s genuine excitement!

Do dogs feel emotions? Let’s look at the science.

Let’s take a closer look...

Dog’s get excited by humans

In a recent study, scientists placed dogs in an MRI to measure their emotional reaction to different stimuli. They found that a human’s presence leads to increased blood flow to a dog’s eyes, ears, and paws - which in emotional terms means the dog is excited. So when they go crazy when they see you? That’s genuine excitement!

Dog’s like being stroked

The same team also found that if humans pet shelter dogs for 15 minutes or more, the dog’s heart rate decreases and it becomes less anxious overall. Just as we humans benefit from the relaxing effect of our canine companions, it appears they do too. Mutual satisfaction!

Dogs understand how we feel

As well as reacting emotionally to humans, another MRI study found that dogs can actually read our emotions too. They found evidence of a ‘face-selective region’ in a dog’s brain, similar to that found in primates, and may help ‘explain dogs’ exquisite sensitivity to human social cues.’ Another study found something similar, that dogs can detect the difference between positive and negative emotions from both humans and other dogs. Not only that, but they also respond differently to them too. Wow!

Dog’s like being stroked

Dogs understand how we feel

Dogs feel jealousy

Ever wondered if fussing the neighbor’s dog upsets yours? Well, science says you could be right! One study found that dogs exhibited jealous behaviors when their carers interacted with stuffed animals, but not so much fussed with an owner fussing over a book. Not only that, but most of the dogs did their best to figure out how to get their parent’s attention back on them. Sound familiar…?

Dog’s are empathetic

Perhaps the sweetest of all, one study found that dogs oriented toward their owner or a stranger more often when the person was pretending to cry, rather than when they were talking or humming. Showing an expression of empathic concern, which isn’t just to do with prior conditioning, as the dogs exhibited worrisome behavior themselves too. So next time you need a good cry session and your dog comes over to cuddle - you know why.

Dogs feel jealousy

Ever wondered if fussing the neighbor’s dog upsets yours? Well, science says you could be right! One study found that dogs exhibited jealous behaviors when their carers interacted with stuffed animals, but not so much fussed with an owner fussing over a book. Not only that, but most of the dogs did their best to figure out how to get their parent’s attention back on them. Sound familiar…?

Dog’s are empathetic

Perhaps the sweetest of all, one study found that dogs oriented toward their owner or a stranger more often when the person was pretending to cry, rather than when they were talking or humming. Showing an expression of empathic concern, which isn’t just to do with prior conditioning, as the dogs exhibited worrisome behavior themselves too. So next time you need a good cry session and your dog comes over to cuddle - you know why.

Dogs know when someones being a meanie

Don’t worry - your dog has your back. As well as research suggesting they can tell the difference between someone who is generous and someone who is selfish, they also were shown to be unlikely to take a treat from the people who behave in a bad or rude way toward their owners. They preferred to be fed by those who helped their owner instead. Good doggos!

Dogs can feel down too

Research in the UK found that some dogs who exhibit separation anxiety might be affected by predisposed negative emotional states, similar to pessimism in humans.

Alone in a room, dogs were repeatedly given an empty food bowl in the same place. After habituation, researchers then placed new food bowls in the room. Some dogs immediately investigated the new bowls, while others didn’t even try! And guess what - there was a direct correlation between the levels of anxiety and the perceived pessimism of the dog. This suggests that anxiety in dogs might be just a unique part of their makeup.

Dogs know when someones being a meanie

Dogs can feel down too

Research in the UK found that some dogs who exhibit separation anxiety might be affected by predisposed negative emotional states, similar to pessimism in humans.

Dogs are sensitive to stress too

Researchers videotaped and took saliva swabs dogs during two different types of training - negative reinforcement and positive reinforcement training. While both methods were effective in controlling the dog’s behavior, dogs in the negative reinforcement programs showed more stress-related behaviors during training. Plus, they had higher levels of cortisol too. Showing just how sensitive dogs can be to the way they are engaged with.

How to tell a dog's emotions?

From the above, it’s pretty clear that what we might think our dog is feeling is usually right!

The obvious difference between human emotions and dog emotions is that because dogs don't speak (words anyway.) They use physical cues, so be sure to look out for any droopy ears, jealous snapping, or if your dog seems genuinely sad. Taking them to the vet if you feel they aren’t themselves will never be a trip wasted.

Dogs are sensitive to stress too

Researchers videotaped and took saliva swabs dogs during two different types of training - negative reinforcement and positive reinforcement training. While both methods were effective in controlling the dog’s behavior, dogs in the negative reinforcement programs showed more stress-related behaviors during training. Plus, they had higher levels of cortisol too. Showing just how sensitive dogs can be to the way they are engaged with.

How to tell a dog's emotions?

From the above, it’s pretty clear that what we might think our dog is feeling is usually right!

The obvious difference between human emotions and dog emotions is that because dogs don't speak (words anyway.) They use physical cues, so be sure to look out for any droopy ears, jealous snapping, or if your dog seems genuinely sad. Taking them to the vet if you feel they aren’t themselves will never be a trip wasted.

On the flip side, know that when your dog is bounding up to you with a big smile on their face, that’s exactly how they feel!

To keep those positive emotions flowing, show your dog you love them as much as they love you. Understand that their anxieties might be similar to your own, that they can’t always help missing you when you leave. That they might not like your new puppy right away and will probably need lots of fuss to know they are still your number one. That they have your back, no matter what - and there is nowhere else they would rather be!