Can you hurt the dog's feelings?

Animals used to be seen as not much more than machines – inability to pain, preferences or feelings. Thankfully, everything that has changed, but questions remain about the inner life of animals, especially dogs.

Which makes us ask: Is it possible to hurt a dog's feelings?

Do dogs have feelings?

Research shows that dogs and other animals have rich emotional lives that are comparable to those experienced by humans. Here is what studies show about dog feelings:

• Dog brains are similar to ours and have the same structures that in humans correlate with emotions as fear and happiness.

• Dogs produce hormones associated with some feelings in humans. Oxytocin, often called the “love hormone”, is a good example.

• Some dog behaviors have been linked to identifiable emotional conditions. For example, research shows that dogs usually arouse the tail to the right when they are happy.

Dog feelings are similar to those experienced by human toddlers. Dog cognition (mental ability) is similar to that in children who are 2–2.5 years old, and this is likely to also apply to their feelings.

Can you hurt the dog's feelings?

Since dogs have feelings, it is natural to wonder if we can harm their feelings. Or, in order to put this question in a different way, can our words or actions make our dogs unhappy or sad?

In short, yes. What we do or says to our dogs has a noticeable effect on them. Praise them, and they are likely to fold their tail and break out in a silly grin. On the other hand, it will lead to disappointment, and maybe a little anger, to say your dog “no” when they release a tennis ball at your feet, and maybe a little anger.

Some things that can hurt a dog's feelings are:

• Punishment when they are worried or scared. Fear can lead to problematic behaviors such as clinging or urination in the house. Dogs need a quiet and safe environment to start feeling better. To scream at – or worse, beating – a scared dog just proves that they had the right to have something to fear.

• Inconsistency. Dogs do not have much control over their lives, but they like to know what comes next. If your dog is used to spending some quality time with you before bedtime, for example, you can skip this nightly ritual make them sad.

Signs that you are hurting your dog's feelings

A dog's body language can tell a lot about what they feel. If you've hurt your dog's feelings they may:

Dogs acting sad for an extended period of time may have depression. Many things can make dogs act depressed, such as spending a lot of time on their own, a change in routine, a family member's death, lack of exercise and play and medical problems such as hypothyroidism and pain. Depression can lead to signs such as:

Talk to your veterinarian if you have any questions about your dog's behavior or health.

How to bind with your dog

It is natural for a dog to experience injured feelings every now and then, but they should bounce back quickly, especially if you already have a strong band. Here are some tips for developing or strengthening the band between you and your dog:

• Give your dog a lot of attention. Spend time together doing things that you both enjoy, such as going for walks, playing with their favorite toys, taking care of them and snuggle together.

• Sometimes let your dog be responsible. Dogs are often willing to go with what we want, but sometimes it is nice to let them say. For example, go out on fragrance hikes where your dog is allowed to choose the pace and route (as long as it is safe!), Or do not force your dog to wear a Halloween costume if it is obvious that they are miserable in it.

If you put in the work to develop a strong bond with your dog, they will forgive you if you sometimes hurt their feelings.