A study in Psychological Science says “Yes, dogs do exhibit jealousy traits”. A new study shows that dogs are one of the few species that show jealous behaviors much like a small child would when their mother gives attention to another child.
Some of the signs to watch for that could signify jealousy are:
Managing unwanted behaviors is key, such as giving them attention and praise when they are not showing jealous behaviors. It is not a lot different than managing the emotional needs of our human children. Pets just want to feel loved.
Source:
Bastos, A.P.M., Neilands, P.D., Hassal, R.S., Lim, B.C., & Taylor, A.H. (2021). Dogs mentally represent jealousy-inducing social interactions. Psychological Science. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797620979149
Print
PDF
