Are we really able to decipher doggy emotions?

At first glance, we might say this doggo looks worried – but is he, really?

Sitting comfortably at home, watching your dog, you might see them tilt their head, prick their ears and open their eyes wide. All this might lead you to believe your dog is happy.

But how can you be sure you’re decoding their emotions correctly? What if, in reality, your own mood is influencing your perception?

Context is key

Arizona State University researchers Holly Molinaro and Clive Wynne suggest that we assess our dogs’ mood more in terms of context than their actual expressions.

“People do not look at what the dog is doing; instead they look at the situation surrounding the dog and base their emotional perception off of that,” noted Molinaro, a PhD student in psychology and animal welfare scientist.

Experimenting with perception

To establish this, the researchers conducted an experiment involving nearly 900 volunteers. Firstly, 383 participants watched videos of dogs reacting to various situations: some positive, such as receiving a treat or going for a walk; others negative, such as a reprimand or the use of a vacuum cleaner.

These videos were then shown to another group with some variations. Some showed only the dog on a neutral background, without any contextual elements, while others showed the whole scene or an edited version of the scene.

The volunteers then had to assess the animal’s emotional state according to two criteria, namely valence (positive or negative), and arousal (calm or agitated), before describing the pooch’s emotions in their own words.

Be aware of anthropomorphism

Without context, when faced with only the dog, the participants were unable to differentiate with certainty between a positive and a negative situation. In other words, their perception of the emotional state of the doggo depended more on the context than on its actual behaviour.

A dog barking at a vacuum cleaner might seem agitated, but a similar reaction to a leash could be interpreted differently. (Envato Elements pic)

“When people saw a video of a dog apparently reacting to a vacuum cleaner, everyone said the dog was feeling bad and agitated. But when they saw a video of the dog doing the same thing in reaction to seeing his leash, everyone reported that the dog was feeling happy and excited,” Molinaro explained.

The researchers also point to another common mistake: by nature, we tend to attribute human emotions to our dogs – known as anthropomorphism – which makes it even more difficult to interpret their signals.

The challenges of deciphering dog emotions

This study challenges the idea that emotions are universal and instinctively recognisable. In reality, our perception depends on multiple factors, such as context, culture and personal experiences.

To truly decipher what a dog is feeling, you have to carefully observe its specific signals. “Every dog’s personality, and thus their emotional expressions, are unique to that dog,” Molinaro added. “So, you have to really pay attention to your own dog’s cues and behaviours.”

Conclusion

By accepting that our reading of canine emotions is often biased, we can establish a more sincere and profound relationship with our dogs. And that could be the key to creating even stronger bonds between humans and their oldest friends.

FAQs

What is anthropomorphism? Anthropomorphism is the tendency to attribute human emotions or characteristics to non-human entities, such as animals.

How can I truly decipher what my dog is feeling? To truly decipher what your dog is feeling, you have to carefully observe its specific signals and cues, and be aware of your own biases and anthropomorphism.

What role does context play in deciphering dog emotions? Context plays a significant role in deciphering dog emotions, as our perception of their emotional state is often influenced by the situation surrounding them.