Jealous Dogs
Most dog owners believe that their dog has a wide range of emotions that can only be seen by you, the mom or dad, who knows the dog most intimately. Of course, we often think that we understand them because they are our babies. We know that if certain words are said around them they will react. My dog for example, knows the words d-o-g-p-a-r-k and therefore we are only allowed to say it aloud minus the spelling, right before we actually arrive. Should I choose to say it before then he’ll be so excited that it is hard to contain. Should I say it and not actually have any intention on going, I’ll feel guilty for raising his level of arousal only to let him down. I would never intentionally want to make him sad you know?
This theory has been tested and scientists now have concluded that besides anger, anxiety and surprise they can definitively express the emotion of jealousy. Through a study at the University of Portsmouth, scientists have found “In every report of jealousy in dogs you had the situation where the dog’s primary carer was being given affection by an interloper.” You and I know that when dogs are jealous they push you nudge someone else out of the way or act overtly silly to gain your attention and in my case, my dog jumps on me when I play with another dog instead of him. It is nice to know though that dogs are gaining the same sort of notoriety that once only belonged to human and primates.
For more on this story go to the Yorkshire Post Today. www.yorkshiretoday.co.uk
