The Emotional World of Dogs – Not So Different from Ours
Dogs' feelings must be expressed freely
As we journey through life alongside our four-legged companions, emotions intertwine to tell a complex story. While we often recognize our own feelings, there's a mysterious emotional landscape within our dogs. Join us on a voyage into the emotional lives of dogs. Allowing emotions to flow freely is crucial—for both us and our canine companions. However, we rarely grant dogs access to their full range of emotions. Anger is one feeling that many dread their dogs displaying. Yet, it's just like any other emotion, sometimes needing to be experienced.
Dogs' emotions should not be silenced by dominance
Some believe that dogs don't have emotions. Likely those who haven't shared life with a dog as an equal sentient being. An imbalance of power often silences a participant in a relationship, consequently their emotional life too. So, if you choose to live with your dog in that manner, I understand if you haven't witnessed your dog's rich emotional life. Unfortunate.
The importance of acknowledging dogs' emotions
I believe that dogs have emotions, a plethora of them. I believe that different canine personalities have varying inclinations towards different emotional states. Moreover, I believe that a dog's experiences influence these inclinations. I'm confident that dogs' emotional lives directly affect their well-being. I even propose that dogs' emotions resurface even when they try to suppress them upon a dog parent's request. It's at those moments when emotions are pushed away that they actually grow stronger and unrestrained. I could even argue that there's a risk in asking our dogs to ignore their emotions. A significant risk.
Understanding instead of reprimands during growls
However, I don't mean that we should let dogs wildly lash out, make aggressive lunges, and pose a threat in society. I want dogs with unbridled emotions to find balance in their emotional lives, to receive help. Instead of their fellow humans attempting to shut down outbursts in the moment and thinking that it's a long-term solution. Instead of responding to a growl with reprimand, understanding should prevail. We must always take responsibility as guardians for the predators we expect to navigate life in a human-oriented society. This means understanding, caring for, and learning to manage dogs' emotions, their triggers, and the interplay between them and their actions. For more insights on how we can support our dogs emotionally, please see The power of protection: how to best support a scared or angry dog.
Interpreting dog emotions as communication
Emotions should not be banned; they should be the dog's guide in life. If we learn to interpret emotional expressions, they can show us how to handle and train the dog. A raised lip doesn't have to be seen as bad behavior; instead, it can be recognized for what it is—communication. A sign of fear, uncertainty, frustration, or anger. Information for us dog parents to understand, act upon, and manage, right then and there... but preferably prevent. Read more about how we can learn to interpret dog behavior in the article Dog language - learn to interpret and speak dog language.
How emotions affect a dog's reason
Within emotions lie choices, decisions to be made about behavioral responses to the emotion. The interplay of feeling and reason, two things we want to keep in harmony. But sometimes, they're each other's opposites. And that's not the problem itself; it's a symptom of a cause. Logics and reason slipping out the backdoor as stress enters is nothing new. The same lack of reason is likely common during other sudden emotions, like sudden anger.
Taking responsibility for and managing your dog's emotions
Reactive dogs should be leashed and under control, but not disciplined. It leads to blocked emotions, those that risk overflowing the railing and drowning reason. Which makes it difficult for dogs to act appropriately. That's when "unprovoked" bites, lunges, and attacks occur. Things that bother us humans. But if we cause the blockage, we also trigger the ensuing chaos. The solution lies in uprooting the emotional chaos in dogs from its root cause, addressing the source, rather than merely trimming the leaves of the weed. For more information on how stress can affect dogs' behavior, I recommend reading Stress in dogs: considerations and solutions.
Written by: Caroline Alupo
Caroline Alupo is Petli's co-founder. She has a master's degree in ethology and is also a trained dog trainer and dog psychologist. She has 19 years of experience as a professional dog trainer. Read more about Caroline here.
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