Do Dogs have Emotions?

Do dogs have emotions? Pose this question to any pet parent, and the answer will likely be, “Duhhhh! Of course, they do.” After all, we’ve all seen our pets jump up and down with excitement and joy when we walk through the door at the end of a long day. Or pull a long face when they’re “sad”. And who can forget the hilarious “guilty face” right after they’ve been caught doing something naughty!

But are these interpretations scientifically sound? Do dogs experience emotions the same way as humans do? Do dogs feel guilt? Do dogs feel jealousy? Do dogs feel sadness? Can dogs feel love? The subject has been the center of scientific inquiry for quite some time. 

While we may never know with 100% certainty the nature of canine emotions, there is enough evidence that dogs do, in fact, feel emotions. However, not quite in the same way as humans do. So, how do dogs feel emotions? Let’s take a deep dive into the emotional intelligence in dogs to fully understand.  

What are the Common Dog Emotions?

Dogs feel emotions. They grieve, they experience happiness, they miss people, places, and things, and they get anxious and stressed. However, experts at The Canine Brains Project at Harvard University believe that assigning human words and triggers for dogs’ emotions may not be the best way to interpret them. 

Assigning human feelings to dogs comes with the risk of misinterpreting signals, and in turn, misunderstanding our dogs’ needs and feelings. For instance, let’s look at the question, do dogs feel jealousy? Now, it’s simpler to attribute a dog’s act of barking if you interact with another dog to jealousy, when, in fact, the reaction could be stemming from their primal instinct of resource guarding. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at the common dog emotions:   

1. Love 

Can dogs feel love? They sure can. However, the concept of love as humans experience it can be very different from what it feels like for dogs. While they may not experience love the way humans do, dogs do form strong bonds with their chosen humans. And you can pick up on that emotion with the distinct signs your dog loves you. 

Experts believe that oxytocin — known as the “love hormone” in humans — is pivotal to the connections dogs form with humans. Research suggests that dogs experience a surge in oxytocin levels when they gaze into the eyes of their favorite humans. And that’s why a dog maintaining eye contact with a human is considered an expression of love and trust. 

2. Fear 

Oxytocin isn’t the only hormone dogs have in common with their human companions. They also have the same hormones that trigger a stress response in humans. And so, dogs are capable of experiencing the emotion of fear, often characterized by a tail tucked between the legs, shaking, whimpering, as well as the fight or flight response. Of course, dogs typically don’t fear the same things that humans do. However, there may be some commonalities. For instance, you may notice that your dog is afraid of heights or water — fears that are shared by humans. 

Suggested Reading: How Do Dogs Communicate — With Each Other and With You

3. Anxiety and depression 

The phenomenon of emotional contagion makes dogs capable of picking up on as well as mimicking human emotions. If a dog senses that a human they’re strongly bonded with is sad or anxious, they may experience the same feelings. However, that’s not the only reason why dogs feel anxious or depressed. 

Dogs can experience emotions owing to certain changes in their environment. For instance, dogs can feel depressed and grieve the loss of a human or a fellow pet. Depression in dogs can also be triggered by being left alone for prolonged periods or lack of human interaction. Likewise, they may feel anxious in a new place or if they fear that their humans may leave them behind. 

4. Jealousy 

Do dogs feel jealousy? Many pet parents may swear that they do but the answer to this question isn’t quite straightforward. Dogs may feel territorial about certain things or people, which triggers their primal instinct to protect resources. That’s why, your dog may react in some way when you interact with another dog — barking, growling, whining, or trying to squeeze their way in for some pet (depending on their relationship with the other dog). 

While we, humans, interpret it as jealousy, that’s not what your dog may be experiencing. In fact, if your dog acts jealous in certain situations, it is a learned shift in behavior they may have acquired, picking on your emotions and reactions. 

Suggested Reading: Puppy Chewing on Paws? Causes and Remedies

5. Joy 

Dogs also experience joy when they get or do the things they love. Belly rubs, play time, going out on walks, your smell, and seeing you come home are some of the things that make your dog happy. They may express their joy by: 

• Wagging their tail such that the whole body wiggles 
• Relaxed or playful posture 
• Rolling over and showing their belly 
• Giving kisses — licking you all over your face 
• Jumping or running around excitedly 

6. Anger 

Anyone who’s seen an angry dog wouldn’t wonder, do dogs have emotions? Now, dogs don’t experience anger as often as humans, nor is it a primary emotion for them. However, fear can give way to anger in dogs, making them lash out in one or a combination of the following ways: 

• Moving away from whatever it is that’s making them angry 
• Avoiding eye content 
• Holding their tail low 
• Freezing 
• Snarling or growling 
• Tightening their jaw and closing their mouth 
• And then, baring their front teeth 

In some cases, biting!

7. Disgust 

When we wonder, do dogs have emotions, the thought is followed by questions like do dogs feel guilt, do dogs feel jealousy, do dogs feel sadness, or can dogs feel love. Disgust is hardly an emotion we think a dog would be capable of experiencing. Turns out, they do. 

Dogs can feel disgust if they’re petted against their wish or upon seeing threatening dogs. A study has found that dogs may pick up on human expressions of disgust and may respond by changing their gaze or expression. It can also cause changes in their heart rate. The emotion of disgust manifests in dogs in the following ways: 

• Growling
• Staring
• Barking
• Exposed teeth
• Upright posture
• Furrowed brow
• Raised hackles  

8. Sadness or Grief 

Do dogs feel sadness? Do dogs grieve? Why yes they do. Events like the loss of a human, injury, or emotional trauma like being abandoned can make a dog grieve and feel deep sadness. A dog may also feel saddened by changes in their routine or environment. They may exhibit these emotions by: 

• Whining or whimpering 
• Not eating 
• Becoming reclusive and less affectionate
• Becoming uninterested in the things that excited them like playing or going for walks 
• Not greeting you at the door 
• Low energy levels

Suggested Reading: How to Teach Your Dog to Play Fetch: Step-by-Step Guide

What Emotions Do Dogs Not Feel?

In uncovering the answer to, do dogs have emotions, you’d have gathered by now that there is a limit to the range of emotions our canine companions can experience. According to Stanley Coren, author of How Dogs Think, cannot process complex emotions such as, 

• Contempt 
• Pride 
• Shame 
• Guilt 

Yes, this last one can come as a surprise to many. Going by that characteristic “guilty look” many dogs pose when caught doing something they shouldn’t be, it’s natural to assume that the answer to, do dogs feel guilty, would be an emphatic yes. Except, it’s not. According to a study, the “guilty look” is your dog’s response to your being upset at something they’ve done and not because they feel guilty about what they did. In fact, the study found dogs respond with the same look when scolded by a human, irrespective of whether they’ve broken any rules.  

This is hardly surprising given that dogs have the emotional capacity of a toddler. Like children, dogs interpret the world around them in a simpler way and are incapable of accurately gauging or experiencing complex emotional states. For instance, confusion, which a combination of two emotions — anger and fear. 

Why is it Important for You to Understand Your Dog’s Emotions?

Understanding dog emotions plays a crucial role in your ability to care for and cater to your pet’s needs as well as diffuse any potentially dangerous situations. However, often people, including experts like veterinarians, may not be adept at correctly interpreting canine emotions through their body language and demeanor. 

Of course, you can pick on basic expressions like when your dog gets happy or excited and show it by wiggling its tushy. However, according to a study, people often struggle to recognize dog emotions such as sadness, fear, or disgust. 

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That can be problematic because it may mean you miss out on identifying an underlying issue that is triggering these emotions. Or, you may fail to thwart an imminent dog fight or attack if you cannot get a read on when your pet is feeling angry or fearful. Understanding how do dogs feel emotions and how these emotions govern their behavior is also crucial for building a stronger bond with your furry baby. 

I hope this guide on dog emotions has helped offer you some clarity, and you feel confident that you can tell a sad dog apart from a scared one. And also, that goes a long way in helping you build a rock-solid bond with your beloved four-legged baby.