Have you ever settled onto the couch with your spouse and kids, ready to enjoy a cozy family movie night, only to have your dog attempt to squeeze themselves right next to her favorite person? Our small poodle mix takes this behavior to the extreme. The moment she sees us snuggled together, she comes over and rests her head on the couch, looking up at us with big, pleading eyes, silently asking for permission to join in.
Once we approve her request, she leaps onto the couch, nudging and wriggling her way between my husband and whoever happens to be next to him. If there isn’t enough space, she happily settles on his lap instead.
It’s easy to label this behavior as jealousy. After all, my husband is undoubtedly our dog’s favorite person—he’s the one who feeds her a high value meal each night and comforted her during those anxious early nights by sleeping on the kitchen floor beside her. But is our dog truly experiencing jealousy, or are we simply misreading her emotions? Could something else entirely be going on behind those soulful eyes and persistent nudges?
In this post, we’ll dive into the fascinating science behind canine jealousy, exploring recent studies to help us understand what our dogs might actually be feeling—and what those behaviors truly mean.
Defining Jealousy
Before we can determine if dogs feel jealousy, we first need to understand exactly what jealousy is. In humans, jealousy is typically described as an emotional reaction triggered by a perceived threat to a valued relationship or social bond. It’s an intricate emotion involving feelings of insecurity, fear, anxiety, and often resentment toward someone seen as a competitor.
Jealousy differs from envy, which is the desire for something someone else has. Instead, jealousy involves protecting what we already have, particularly the relationships we deeply cherish. This emotional complexity raises questions about whether animals, especially dogs, have the cognitive capability and emotional depth to experience jealousy in a similar way.
Are dogs genuinely experiencing these nuanced emotions, or are their behaviors simply instinctual responses to social dynamics and resource guarding? Understanding this distinction is crucial for interpreting canine behavior accurately.
Do Dogs Experience Jealousy?
Scientific studies have begun to shed light on whether dogs genuinely experience jealousy. A key study by Christine Harris and Caroline Prouvost from the University of California, San Diego (2014), titled “Jealousy in Dogs,” set out to examine jealousy-like behavior in dogs. In their experiment, dog owners were instructed to interact affectionately with either a realistic-looking toy dog or a non-social object. The study found that dogs showed significantly more jealousy-like behaviors—such as pawing, nudging, barking, and trying to get between their owner and the “intruder”—when their owners interacted with the fake dog compared to interactions with neutral objects. This indicated that dogs respond strongly when they perceive competition for their owner’s attention, a behavior consistent with jealousy.
More recently, in 2021, researchers Amalia Bastos and her team at the University of Auckland explored whether dogs have the cognitive ability to mentally represent jealousy-inducing scenarios. Their research found that dogs not only react behaviorally to jealousy-inducing situations, but they also cognitively process the scenario, recognizing it as a social threat. Dogs responded more intensely when their owners engaged with another “dog” compared to an object that lacked social qualities. This suggests dogs aren’t merely reacting instinctively but actually understand and mentally represent the situation as threatening their social relationship with their owner. This discovery underscores dogs’ remarkable cognitive abilities and suggests they can indeed perceive and emotionally react to social threats in ways remarkably similar to humans.
Signs That Your Dog is Experiencing Jealousy vs. Something Else
So, how can you tell if your dog’s behavior is truly jealousy or something else entirely? Jealousy in dogs typically manifests as attention-seeking behaviors specifically triggered when you’re interacting with another animal or someone else. Clear signs include attempts to wedge themselves physically between you and the perceived rival, persistent pawing, whining, or barking to regain your attention, and even subtle signs of agitation like pacing or restlessness.
However, similar behaviors could also indicate other emotions or instincts. Resource guarding, for example, happens when dogs perceive attention as a resource they want to protect, often resulting in growling or more aggressive behaviors. Anxiety or insecurity may drive dogs to seek reassurance through increased attention-seeking behaviors, particularly if they’re unsure about their standing within the family dynamic. Additionally, simple boredom or habitual attention-seeking can easily be mistaken for jealousy, particularly if your dog hasn’t had enough mental or physical stimulation during the day.
In the case of our own dog wanting to join in family cuddles, it’s possible she’s motivated more by a need for social bonding than by jealousy. Recent research emphasizes that dogs strongly value social connections and inclusion within their family unit. According to studies by canine cognition researchers like Alexandra Horowitz and Gregory Berns, dogs actively seek social interaction as a way of reinforcing emotional bonds. Understanding this perspective can offer a kinder interpretation of behaviors that may initially seem disruptive.
By closely observing the context and triggers of your dog’s actions, you’ll be better equipped to interpret what they are truly feeling—and address it appropriately.
How to Respond to “Jealous” Behaviors
Understanding that your dog’s behaviors may stem from either genuine jealousy or simply a strong desire for social inclusion and fairness can help guide your responses. Here are some effective ways to manage and positively address these behaviors:
- Consistent Inclusion: Recognize and include your dog regularly in family activities to reinforce her sense of belonging and prevent feelings of exclusion or unfairness.
- Positive Reinforcement: Encourage and reward calm, patient behavior, such as waiting politely for her turn to receive attention, rather than jumping or pawing insistently.
- Structured Attention: Provide predictable routines and designated times for affectionate interactions, ensuring your dog knows she will receive consistent and fair attention.
- Social Enrichment: Promote healthy, positive social interactions between your dog and family members to enhance bonding and reassure her of her valued role within the family.
- Adequate Mental and Physical Stimulation: Ensure your dog receives sufficient daily exercise and mental enrichment to reduce boredom and attention-seeking behaviors.
If your dog exhibits aggressive or concerning behaviors when seeking attention or responding to perceived threats, it’s essential to consult a professional trainer or canine behavior specialist. They can help you safely and effectively address these behaviors.
Conclusion
So, is your dog really jealous? Science suggests dogs indeed experience jealousy-like emotions, particularly when they perceive a threat to their valuable social bonds. However, the truth is often more nuanced. Dogs, much like humans, deeply value social connections and fairness within their family dynamics, meaning many behaviors we quickly label as jealousy could also stem from feelings of unfairness, anxiety, or simply wanting reassurance of inclusion.
Just like our pup who insists on joining family cuddle sessions, dogs often simply want reassurance that they still hold a special place within the family. Understanding these nuances helps us respond with empathy, consistency, and positive reinforcement—ultimately fostering happier and stronger relationships with our beloved canine companions.
Canine Jealousy Resources:
- Harris CR, Prouvost C (2014) Jealousy in Dogs. PLoS ONE 9(7): e94597
- Yes, dogs do get jealous – new study
- Inside a Dog – Alexandra Horowitz