Do you really know how your dog feels inside? Do you understand dog emotions? No, not really, new research says. Busy family life with a dog is A LOT and you’re often spread thin. So much so that you can easily confuse your emotions with those of your canine. Since people and dogs don’t share a common language, understanding each other depends on interpreting behavior and emotional cues. It’s a process that often feels effortless. You hand your dog a treat, he looks into your eyes as if to say, “I’m thrilled to have this!” With a wag of the tail, he takes the treat and trots off happily. You both feel good inside, right?
New Research
But research out of Arizona State University (ASU) suggests that we actually misinterpret our dogs by projecting our feelings onto them. In the study,“Barking Up the Wrong Tree: Human Perceptions of Dog Emotions is Influenced by Extraneous Factors,” researchers found that most humans assess their own emotions before their dog’s. Humans rely on the context of the situation … and then make assumptions.
For instance, you yell at your dog for doing something bad. The dog makes a guilty face. You may think the dog is guilty for behaving badly. But the dog may thinks he’s going to be reprimanded more. Researchers say dogs make efforts to communicate with humans, but humans are determined to see things their way. The misunderstanding is based on humans projecting their feelings onto the dog, without actually observing the dog.
Dog Emotions Are Not Human Emotions
While humans and dogs have shared a bond over the centuries, dog emotions are different. Understanding this is the key to knowing your canine. So, to improve your dog perceptivity, try to really pay attention to his cues and behaviors. And try and cut away your emotions.
Taking an extra second to focus on your dog’s behavior — viewing the situation around the dog — can go a long way in helping you understand him. It can help you to get a true read on your dog’s emotional state, leading to a stronger bond between the two of you.
Remember, researchers say, firm but loving is best for dogs. And moms and dads might say, kids, too!
