Many Dog Owners Struggle When it Comes to Reading Canine Emotions

Near Harvard - Experts in animal behavior near Harvard found in a recent study that many dog owners aren't very good at interpreting the full range of their pet's emotional states, with a whopping 95% being unable to pick up on more than two or three.

Dr. Snickers, a 3-year-old Havanese, shown here experiencing intense schadenfreude after watching an aggressive German Shepherd being run over by a Cybertruck

"The results were very unexpected," canine psychologist and lead science woman Josabel Clump explained. "Dogs and humans have shared a strong bond for thousands of years. They react to our emotional states and facial expressions, and previous studies have even revealed that both dogs and humans secrete oxytocin when enjoying quality time together. This helps to forge a strong connection."

Despite the powerful historical bond between humanity and our pooch partners, the study, published this week in Online Publishing Module #89,462: Dogs, Cats, and...Ferrets?, paints a different picture. Clump, the proud owner of a sweet but mysterious Havanese named Dr. Snickers, was forced to wonder if we really know our canine companions at all. "Everyone can tell when a dog is angry. And many owners are pretty quick to realize that their dog is sad or experiencing fear. But our research reveals that most owners can't perceive complex emotions like ennui, angst, or optimism about the future with any real accuracy."

Understanding a dog's emotions is similar to reading human emotions. It involves the observation and interpretation of a variety of nonverbal cues, facial expressions, and bark tone. According to renowned pet psychic Loora Finchly, however, that is only the first step in an extremely complex process often taken for granted when only human beings are involved:

Dog owners must consider the context surrounding the emotional breadcrumbs left by their pets, and any potential cultural influences. They have to use active listening and they have to use empathy. And when all else fails, I just ask them how they're feeling.

Successfully interpreting a pet's emotional state can help to foster a rewarding relationship for everyone involved, both human and canine. Finchly, who worked with NASA in the 1960s when the space chimps kept developing nervous diarrhea, believes that many dog behavior issues can be solved by getting to the bottom of what is getting to your furry friend. "Maybe it's something simple, like a bit of boredom or a touch of jealousy. Or maybe they saw something, something they shouldn't have, something that could get someone in a lot of trouble, and it's tearing them apart."