Understanding the Dog emotions

July 19, 2023

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Understanding the Dog emotions

Studies have shown that dogs have similar emotions as humans, and they understand us through gestures and emotional expressions rather than words. It’s necessary for dog owners to understand dog emotions to enhance the quality of life they spend with their furr-end. A team of People for Animals and Cruelty-Free International, together, researched emotional intelligence of dogs by employing the MRI brain scan technique. They found that dog’s EQ to be equivalent to that of a human toddler of two to three years old. Dogs demonstrate similar behaviors like tolerance, forgiveness, fairness, selflessness, and altruism. As dog owners, we can tell if our dog is feeling excited, relaxed or anxious. But are dogs’ emotions as complex as our own? The answer is complicated, because while we’ve learned a lot about canine emotions, there’s also a lot we don’t know. However, scientists have found that dogs experience at least some of the same emotions as humans. The ever-changing world can cause both humans and animals to feel a wide range of emotions. Whereas we humans try to keep our feelings internal, our dogs very much wear their emotions ‘on their sleeve’. They use a combination of posture, facial expressions, as well as other body language to display their emotions, and being able to decipher this is an important part of communicating with your canine.

Dog-owners wanting to better understand dog behaviour and their dog’s emotional state should read on to find out how to translate eight dog emotions and canine body language. Just like humans, dogs are capable of feeling anxious, angry and playful, and these positive or negative emotions are primarily conveyed through their body language.

Owners should pay special attention to the dogs’ tails and ears. Just like humans, dogs can show their emotions through the way they handle their bodies. Whilst a happy dog will have its ears up straight and a wagging tail, an anxious or fearful dog will avoid eye contact, cower, and tuck its tail between its legs, whilst a dog who licks you could mean a variety of things.

Nobody knows their dog better than the owner. The more time they spend together, and the better the human is at reading their dog, the stronger the relationship will be.

There is much debate on whether a dog’s experience of emotion is similar to that of a human’s or if a dog’s behavior is simply influenced by an inner drive to survive. While we cannot claim to have all the answers yet, science is helping increase our understanding of how the dog’s brain works, producing fascinating insight into the dog’s emotional world.

There are many people who think that while dogs might be emotional beings, their emotional experience is negligible and anthropomorphizing intent or trying to explain emotion in human terms, leads us to misinterpret what a dog is truly feeling. Ask any dog owner, however, if their dog has emotions and the answer is almost always an emphatic ‘yes!’ Just what those feelings might be is impossible to know completely, but scientific and observational study is bringing us a deeper understanding of what is going on in the dog’s mind.

Emotions and Behavior
It is an undisputed fact that emotions drive behavior, moving the dog towards comfort and pleasure, or away from discomfort and pain. Behavior is influenced by physiological processes including the activity of neurotransmitters and hormones. Neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine, transmit chemical messages in the brains and bodies of dogs and humans and as a result both have the same physiological reactions to behavioral states such as joy, fear, excitement and pain.

Serotonin, for example, has a profound affect over emotions and is responsible for regulating mood, enhancing a positive feeling and inhibiting aggressive response. Dopamine helps to focus attention, promoting feelings of satisfaction. A lack of these neurotransmitters causes irritability, limited impulse control, over reactivity, anxiety and greater sensitivity to pain.

While the physical reaction is similar in both species, the way emotions are processed in the brain could potentially be where the emotional experience of the two species differ. Because human emotions flood through a cortex that is five times bigger than that of a dog (the cerebral cortex is the area of the brain responsible for social inhibition, impulse control, problem solving, thinking and learning), it might mean that while a dog still has impressive cognitive abilities, processing emotion is simpler, unadulterated by a humans’ ability to analyze. Simply put, when a dog emotes, the feeling is very pure and not complicated by complex human thought.

Emotion and the Senses
A dog’s nose dominates his brain; in fact the part of the brain dedicated to scent is forty times greater in a dog than in a human. The dog’s brain is literally built around the information it gets from scent and as smell is so closely linked to emotions, this provides even more evidence that the dog’s emotional experience might be even greater than we could ever imagine.

Have you ever smelt something that evoked a memory? When a dog or human inhales, scent molecules stimulate chemical messages that bypass other areas of the brain and go straight to the amygdala, the brain’s emotional center. The amygdala passes emotional judgments to other structures that collate memories and these are passed onto the cortex. Emotionally appropriate hormones are then released into the body, which also affect mood. Because a dog’s dominant sense is smell and so much of the brain is dedicated to processing scent, this is again strong evidence that dogs could be even more driven by their emotions than humans.

The Food/Brain Relationship
This knowledge provides us with crucial information not just on how the brain works, but how we can use the knowledge to help dogs learn and modify behavioral states such as anxiety and fear. Stimulating a dog’s sense of smell with food, for example, not only motivates a dog to learn, but is a valuable tool in changing the way the brain works.

Some people think that using food as a reward is tantamount to bribery but what they do not understand is just how powerful food is, not just as a motivator, but because food is incompatible with fear.

When a dog is fearful, a number of changes happen in the body. The heart beats faster, blood pressure rises and blood flow is diverted to muscles that prepare for fight or flight. If food is presented before the dog reaches a high level of stress, a positive emotional response can occur in the presentation or anticipation of the food.

There are circuits in the dog’s brain that encourage seeking or hunting behavior and circuits that elicit the fear response. When you turn on a dog’s seeker system, by presenting him with a tasty treat or a toy filled with food, and encourage him to play a game in the presence of something he fears, this activity will turn on his seeker system and shut off his fear. This is one reason why activities such as scent work is so valuable for fearful dogs. In a word, turning on the thinking brain deactivates the emotional brain, enhancing a dog’s attention with positive motivation and allowing him to move into a calmer state where learning can take place.

The Evolution of Dogs

Our dogs’ ability to connect with humans may be traced back to their evolution from wolves. Wolves started to visit the campsites of human hunters to eat the food they threw away. The wolves that approached the hunters aggressively would be chased away or killed, while the friendlier ones would have been tolerated and even accepted by the hunters. The amicable wolves would survive and pass their genes down to the next generation.

As wolves were domesticated over many years, their bond with humans would grow. It would be to their advantage to strengthen their understanding of the people around them. All of this helps explain our dog’s remarkable ability to understand what we’re thinking or feeling.

Our relationship with dogs

Dogs have evolved to have a close relationship with us; in fact, studies show that humans are important to dogs. Researchers have found that when dogs interact with their owners, they display responsive behaviors similar to those seen in human infants. Dogs will approach their owners when stressed, use them as a safe base for exploration, and exuberantly reunite with them after separation. These results support the idea that dogs form real bonds to their people. This is rather unique considering that canines and humans are two different species. By exploring this relationship, we can determine what dogs have learned from living with humans and what capacities they have for complex communication, cognition and emotion.

Why developing an emotional understanding of dogs is important?

Dogs are social animals that crave companionship and interaction with their pack. Without a strong emotional connection, dogs can become anxious, depressed, and stressed. A deep emotional understanding allows dogs to feel secure and loved and builds a foundation for a lifelong bond.

Most pet owners bring home a dog or a cat to overcome their loneliness, depression, or stress. Some buy them for the happiness of their children. But, have you ever thought from the perspective of the dog or puppy who has been introduced to your family, and looks up to you as their only savior? Here are the benefits of developing an emotional understanding with dogs:

It will help you raise an emotionally balanced dog.
It will make the training processeasy, where you can manipulate the good moods and mold the negative emotions on the spot.
It will prevent your dog from getting into depression, stress, or separation anxiety.
You can have an emotionally intelligent dog.
Often, dogs catch your emotions. So, you can understand your reactions and emotions better by staying aware of your behavior towards your dog.

Awareness about dog emotions and personal reactions is required so that better behaviors are adopted for personal development, and practical training techniques are employed for the dogs. Moreover, you can seek professional help in case of severe behavior problems. As much as the dog makes us happy, it’s our job to make him equally happy, comfortable, and content.

Happy

Your dogs’ ears will be up (not forward) with their tail down and relaxed, unless of course, it’s wagging which is a good indication any dog is happy. They will have a soft, open mouth that kind of looks like a dog version of a smile, and their eyes will look natural, relaxed and the whites will barely be visible.

Also, their hair will be smooth rather than standing on end, and your dog could even be playing bow or rolling over to show their belly.

Alert

The main sign of an alert dog is the ears being forward and they may twitch if they’re trying to listen out for a specific sound. Their eyes will be open and bright as they concentrate. Essentially, your dog is checking out their surroundings, judging whether or not there is a threat that’ll need their attention and action.

They’ll look focused with a closed, tight mouth, they might be leaning slightly forward on their toes as they search the environment and their tail will either be motionless or wagging slowly from side to side. Some dogs may even growl or bark depending on the situation.

Anxious

Avoiding eye contact is a key trait of an anxious dog. Their body and tail will be still and slightly lowered, along with flattened ears and a raised paw. Sweaty footprints can also be an obvious sign, along with repeated yawning. Although yawning can be a sign of tiredness, it can also indicate extreme stress.

You might also notice that your dog is licking their lips over and over again, or even licking the air or the face of the dominant dog, which are tell-tale signs of anxiety. In this situation, dogs will typically convey a submissive body language with their neck low to the ground and in some more extreme cases, urination.

Fearful

Dogs can show fear in different ways. Some will cower, others may roll on their back to show submission and vulnerability and some will bark or growl as a means of defence.

A tucked tail and darting eyes whilst they concentrate on the source of fear is often a giveaway. Many will try and make themselves as small as possible and their body posture will be tense and low to the ground, very similar to the signs for anxiety that are listed above.

Vulnerable

Many dogs can feel unsure about meeting new people, making them feel vulnerable. They may roll onto their back with their paws in the air and their belly and throat exposed. But many people consider this to be a sign of wanting their belly rubbed, but it’s actually a sign of fear and submission, so just be wary when introducing strangers (both human and hound) to your pet. Exposing their tummy is just your dog’s way of surrendering, as their stomach is the most vulnerable area of their body.

You’re likely to also notice your dog avoiding eye contact, or their eyes partly closed, their tail tucked and even a few drops of urine.

Angry

Dogs will make themselves look as big as possible in the face of a threat, so a stiff body and fur standing on end is to be expected. The weight of the dog will mainly be over the front two feet in preparation to lunge and attack. Their tail may either by up and high to show dominance, or it might be tucked under, along with dilated pupils that look dark, hard and imposing.

Alongside this, their mouth may be open with their lips drawn back to bare their teeth, accompanied by a snarl, bark or growl.

Relieved

A relieved dog can often be easy to spot when its position changes from a previously angry or anxious position. They will visibly relax, with the eyes softening and head returning to a lower position.

When they’re feeling generally relaxed, their tail will be down, relaxed or wagging, and their entire stance and expression will appear a lot more natural, loose and content.

Playful

Resting on the front legs with a raised bottom and a wagging tail are the main giveaways of a playful dog. Bringing a toy over is a pretty good sign too! Their body will be very bouncy, along with their tail which may be widely wagging from side to side, communicating that they want to play. It’s likely that they’ll hold this bowed position for a few seconds just before they break free to run in a random direction or of course, get the zoomies.

They’ll also have an open, soft mouth, possibly with their tongue lolling out that’ll almost make them look like they’re smiling.

What emotions do dogs feel?

So far, research has found that dogs experience a range of basic, or fundamental, emotions including:

Joy
Sadness
Surprise
Fear
Anger
Disgust

Whether dogs are capable of feeling more complex, or secondary, emotions is still up for debate. These include:

Regret
Grief
Jealousy
Shame
Embarrassment
Disappointment

Dogs have the same neurotransmitters that regulate emotions as humans. But while they may feel some of the same basic emotions, they probably perceive them differently. That’s because their cerebral cortex, where emotions are processed, is much smaller than that of humans. Dogs also live in the moment, and this can affect their emotions and outlook on life.

Do dogs love their owners?

It goes without saying that we love our dogs – but do dogs feel love in the same way that we do? This does seem likely, as research shows that levels of oxytocin and dopamine, or ‘feel-good’ hormones, increase in both humans and dogs when we play together. At the same time, their blood pressure decreases.

Research also found that brain activity in dogs who have a clear bond with their owners is similar to that seen in humans. So, it’s pretty clear that when it comes to unconditional love with our dogs, the emotion goes both ways.

Can dogs pick up on human emotions?

Dogs are pack animals, so being able to stay in tune with their pack mates’ emotional states is an important survival skill in the wild. If one dog is alerted by something they’ve seen, heard or smelled, then other dogs within the same pack will pick up on this. Years of living and working alongside humans means that dogs are capable of forming a similarly strong bond with their owners. In fact, research suggests that the bonds we form with our dogs are similar to those formed between parents and their children.

So, if you’ve ever felt like your dog can pick up on your emotions, you’re probably right. Research has found that dogs read our facial expressions, use auditory clues and pick up on our body language to decipher how we’re feeling.

As our relationship with dogs evolves and more research is carried out, it’s likely that we’ll discover even more about our dogs’ emotions. For example, some studies have found that dogs can feel jealousy – traditionally thought to be a complex emotion specific to humans.

Dog emotions: a dog’s-eye view

Even though dogs seem to be pretty adept at knowing how we’re feeling, dog owners need to be careful not to project human emotions onto our dogs – a habit known as anthropomorphism. This ultimately leads to assumptions about how our dogs may be feeling, and it can mean we engage with our dogs in a way that’s not appropriate for that moment.

For example, if we come home and find out our dog has raided the bin and made a mess, we might assume from their expression that they’re feeling guilty or embarrassed. But what we see as embarrassment are more likely to be appeasement signals from our dog, based on them recognising our displeased tone of voice, body language and mood. These signs of anxiety can include turning the head to the side, yawning or licking the nose.

Rather than assume your dog is feeling something they’re not, it’s better to become familiar with their body language and behaviour. This can give us a better idea of what they’re feeling. It’s also important to consider the intelligence and emotional quotient of each individual dog, as just like us, they’ll respond differently to the same situation.

How dog emotions drive behaviour

While owner anecdotes often raise the possibility that dogs can experience a more complex range of emotions than we once thought, more research is needed before we can claim this for sure. In the meantime, knowing that emotions drive your dog’s behaviour can help us become more attuned with what they may be feeling. Do dogs feel guilty or embarrassed? It’s unlikely. Do dogs love their owners? Absolutely! And our dogs are almost certainly capable of a wider variety of feelings than they were previously credited with.