Do dogs get jealous?

Dog owners have long claimed that their dog acts jealous whenever they bring home a new pet, greet another dog, or even kiss their human child. While we can’t 100% confirm that dogs experience jealousy the way humans do, the verdict of several studies concludes that dogs do show signs of jealous-like behaviors, especially over others that they believe could threaten their relationship with their pet parent, as opposed to an inanimate object.

Here’s what to do if you’re considering bringing a new addition into the picture, or are currently dealing with your dog’s jealous behaviors.

In humans, jealousy is often directed towards a suspected interloper. This person is perceived to be a threat to an important relationship and is often challenged. Jealousy is a complex emotion that can lead to many devastating actions, including obsessive behaviors like stalking, and even murder in severe cases.

It’s easy to suppose that dogs can’t feel such strong secondary emotions. Since dominance is a big deal in the canine kingdom, people have assumed that what might appear to be jealous behavior is simply one dog asserting dominance over another. This theory is certainly easier to believe if you undermine a dog’s cognitive processes, believing that they only experience primary emotions such fear or anger.

However, anecdotal tales from pet parents have long asserted that their dogs display jealous behaviors not only towards other pups, but also towards new people, close human relationships, and even cats. Mother dogs may also display signs of jealousy when their pet parents adore the new puppies and don’t give them as much attention as usual. This suggests that dogs do feel jealousy towards their owners when they perceive a threatening relationship coming between them. After recent studies, research seems to agree.

In a 2014 study Trusted Source This is an approved Trusted Source for betterpet. Learn more about Trusted Sources from the University of San Diego, leashed dogs watched their owners pet an animatronic stuffed dog and then display the same affection towards a plastic jack-o-lantern. Afterwards, the pet parents read aloud from an interactive children’s book. In every phase of the experiment, the pet parents totally ignored their dog while researchers recorded their dog’s reactions. The researchers hypothesized that the dogs would react with more negativity and aggression towards the realistic fake dog as opposed to the obviously inanimate objects. They were correct.

The dogs exhibited more jealous behaviors towards what they believed to be another dog — even lunging in attack towards the stuffed animal — as opposed to the inanimate objects. In fact, dogs were more likely to ignore their owners when they were reading the book rather than react aggressively. This proves that the dogs were concerned about the possibility of another animal jeopardizing the relationship with their owner, as opposed to merely addressing the loss of attention or control.

A more recent study from the University of Auckland also found similar results. However, it’s important to acknowledge that the presence of negative emotions doesn’t necessarily denote jealousy per say. For example, a dog could be experiencing a more primary emotion such as fear or anxiety instead.

Canines can’t write a revenge song and are unlikely to poke holes in our tires, so we have to rely on their body language to give us clues on how they really feel. Some common jealous-like behaviors in dogs include:

• Stepping in. A dog who feels misplaced may try to come between their owner and the new object of affection. This could look like wedging in between a new couple, bumping their owner’s hand with their nose, or attempting to shove their rival out of the way.
• Vocalizing. Your dog might frequently bark or whine to try to grab your attention. Short, sharp barks are a common sound coming from a pup who’s feeling abandoned or jealous. If their attention is directed towards their rival, they may also growl or snarl.
• Lunging towards the threat. If you have a protective dog, they may feel like they have to guard you from the unfamiliar person or pup. They may run towards the potential threat in attack mode.
• Raising their tail. A stiff, upright tail usually indicates your dog is feeling scared or threatened. Conversely, a lowered tail is often a fearful response. Both are tail-tale signs that a dog fight may be about to break out, so you may need to intervene to prevent a problem.
• Ignoring their owner. This behavior was more commonly observed when the pet parents were enraptured by inanimate objects rather than another animal. However, it’s still possible for your dog to ignore you if you introduce a new pet or spend time with someone else’s dog.
• Being clingy. On the opposite end of the spectrum, a dog who suddenly acts magnetized to their owner may be experiencing fear or jealousy over their affection.
• Inappropriate urination or defecation. Peeing or pooping in the house — especially on objects that they know you value, such as your favorite shoes—may indicate jealousy or separation anxiety. Sudden behavioral changes may also indicate health issues, though, so you should take your dog to the vet if they begin peeing or pooping in unusual places.

Dogs get jealous and let us know in various ways. But what turns them into a green monster? Every dog is different, but here are the most common triggers:

• New pets. Adopting another dog or cat is an exciting decision that greatly impacts your household dynamic. While it’s normal for your dog to feel jealous over the new arrival at first, they’ll probably appreciate having a friend over time.
• New family members like a baby. A baby changes everything in a dog’s life. Not only do they have to contend with a needy person who’s a direct rival for their owner’s attention, but their idea of normalcy shifts and can create feelings of instability. It doesn’t always have to be a baby, either. For example, your mother-in-law coming to live with you can also disrupt the daily routine.
• Shifts in routine. Switching jobs or moving places may give your dog the idea that they’re not a priority in your life anymore. This may be especially true if you’re currently consumed with tasks that accompany those types of changes, such as packing boxes and working long hours. Including your dog in your new schedule can give them confidence that you’re still there for them even when everything else is shifting.
• Food aggression and resource guarding. Some dogs may guard food, toys, beds, or anything else that they value from the perceived threat. If this is happening in your home, the best way to handle the situation is to feed your pets separately to prevent envy.
• Breed. Some dog breeds, such as Border Collies, seem to display jealous behaviors more than the canine population at large. This suggests that jealousy, like anxiety, may have genetic influences.
• Boredom. Dogs who need more mental or physical stimulation may resort to irritating their owners out of sheer boredom.

While we often try to appease our pets, there may be situations where you have to help your dog get over their jealous behaviors, like when you bring home a new baby. Thankfully, positive reinforcement training can speed up the process.

Tips and tricks to calm a jealous dog

Jealous dogs are desperate for your attention. When you respond to them with positive or negative feedback, you’re rewarding their attention-seeking behavior. The secret to helping your dog overcome jealous behaviors is to ignore them when they’re behaving badly, such as bumping you or barking sharply. Once they’ve calmed down, give them your full attention and a treat.

Dedicate exclusive time with them

Spending time with your dog may be more challenging during busy seasons or after life shifts, such as having a baby. However, it’s important to make time to spend just with them, whether it’s a few minutes playing fetch after work or snuggling with them after dinner.

Training techniques to alleviate jealousy

If your dog barks, whines, howls, or bumps, try to ignore them. If you cave to their requests, you’re reinforcing the idea that their rude behavior worked. Of course, if you’re sensing that the situation could escalate into aggression, you might have to change your strategy to prioritize everyone’s safety. In this case, remove the misbehaving dog from the room, not the perceived threat.

Once your dog stops their negative behavior, reward them with your attention. You can also give them a treat if you prefer.

It’s important to never purposefully try to make your pets jealous of each other. You should always give your pets equal attention to help them trust you and get along with their other household members. If your dog has a problem with resource guarding or food aggression, feeding your pets separately is a good idea to keep everyone safe and happy. In severe cases, you may need to hire professional help for a few training sessions. When life shifts and other things take priority — new housing situations, jobs, family coming to live with you — remember to carve out time to spend with your dog so they feel secure in their place in your heart and home.