THE EMOTIONAL LIVES OF PET DOGS

Dog guardians do well to ensure their dog has many positive experiences.

Our dogs experience a wide range of emotions in their daily lives. For example, this morning, my dog Pepper showed pure joy when getting into the car. That excitement quickly shifted to stress when we headed toward the vet, though it was tempered by the delightful treats he enjoyed there. After the exam, he practically leaped into my arms, seeking comfort. He wasn’t too stressed, as he even wanted to return to the reception for more treats before we went home. (And yes, he got treats for that too).

What does it mean to acknowledge that dogs experience emotions? Today, this is widely accepted and not up for debate. In the updated edition of The Emotional Lives of Animals: A Leading Scientist Explores Animal Joy, Sorrow, and Empathy—and Why They Matter, Marc Bekoff writes, “It is no longer radical to recognize, respect, and want to protect the emotional lives of animals.”

This understanding has significant implications for how we view and care for our pet dogs. Here are a few ways we can incorporate this awareness into our daily interactions with our canine companions.

How to respect dogs’ emotional lives

It’s essential for dogs to feel safe, not just to be physically secure. This is particularly important for fearful and anxious dogs, who may find their surroundings overwhelming without our efforts to protect them. (My new book, Bark! The Science of Helping Your Anxious, Fearful, or Reactive Dog, offers numerous tips on this topic).

1. When dogs are stressed, they often find comfort in the presence of their guardian. This is a significant shift from outdated advice that suggested not comforting a fearful dog—a misguided approach that neglected our responsibility as guardians. It is your role to support your dog through challenging situations. However, it’s important to recognize that there may be instances when your presence does not alleviate their stress. This could be the case if you are engaged in something the dog finds distressing, or if your history of using aversive methods has made your presence a source of anxiety due to a fear of potential pain.

2. It’s essential to provide dogs with opportunities to engage in natural activities that bring them joy. This principle is a core component of the Five Domains model of animal welfare, which emphasizes the need for animals in our care to experience positive interactions (Mellor et al., 2020). These activities can range from leisurely sniffaris during a Sunday morning walk to playing and running with canine friends. Essentially, any safe and enjoyable activity that offers your dog enrichment will contribute to a positive experience.

3. We should use reward-based methods for training dogs. Aversive training techniques—such as prong collars, shock collars, and leash corrections—work by inducing fear and pain. However, reward-based training methods can achieve the same results, and in some cases, even better outcomes, by focusing on positive reinforcement.

4. We need to address negative experiences such as fear and pain. While these emotions can temporarily protect animals, including dogs, by prompting them to avoid dangerous situations, they can also hinder their ability to enjoy positive experiences. We now recognize that pain and fear can significantly impact behavior. If you notice a sudden change in your dog’s behavior or if you’re unsure about their well-being, consult your vet for guidance.

5. We should educate ourselves about dogs’ body language to better understand how our own dog is feeling at any given moment. By applying this knowledge and considering the context, we can more effectively intervene when needed, such as by informing a stranger that the dog isn’t comfortable with a greeting. Additionally, recognizing when our dog is enjoying enrichment and positive training activities allows us to provide more of what they love in the future.

Emotions affect all aspects of dogs’ lives

As illustrated, acknowledging and respecting the emotional lives of dogs influences every aspect of our relationship with them, not just during training sessions.

Marc Bekoff’s research highlights the evolution of our bond with dogs and other animals, emphasizing how we can enhance it. It’s crucial that we consider dogs’ emotions in our daily lives with them.