Research Suggests Dogs May Experience Jealousy

While some earlier studies, like a 2018 research published in Animal Cognition, showed no definitive evidence of jealous behaviors in dogs—attributed to small sample sizes—more recent studies present a more complex view. A 2021 study in Psychological Science examined the behavior of 18 dogs in relation to their owners’ interactions with a realistic fake dog. In this experiment, dogs observed their owners petting the fake dog, even when hidden from view by a barrier, and their reactions were measured by the force with which they pulled toward their owners.

The results indicated that dogs exhibited more forceful pulling when their owners engaged with the fake dog compared to interactions with an inanimate object. The researchers concluded that these behaviors could suggest jealousy, as the dogs demonstrated a stronger inclination to approach their owners when they were interacting with what they perceived as a rival.

However, London critiques this interpretation, arguing that the pulling behavior could simply reflect a desire to join the interaction rather than jealousy. She emphasizes that many dogs are naturally inclined to seek social contact and that such behavior does not definitively indicate jealous feelings.

Despite the mixed results in current research, London notes that several studies have provided stronger evidence for the existence of jealousy in dogs, asserting that the emotional experience is not merely a human trait. Dr. Patricia B. McConnell reinforces this perspective, stating that dogs likely feel a sense of missing out when their owners show affection to another animal, indicating a form of jealousy exists.

Overall, while some studies leave room for interpretation, there is a growing consensus that dogs can experience feelings akin to jealousy.