Why Most People Still Can’t Read Their Dogs’ Emotions

Researchers from Arizona State University have found that people are quite poor at reading their dogs’ feelings, even though they believe they understand them perfectly.
For instance, when people are in a good mood, they often perceive their dog as looking sad. Conversely, when they feel down, they tend to think the same dog appears happy.
When it’s another person instead of a dog, people tend to assume that person’s emotions match their own.
“I’m constantly surprised by how little we understand about dog emotions,” said Clive Wynne, a co-author of the study.
The research team says the findings could help owners take better care of their pets. “If we better understand dogs’ emotions, we can provide better care for them,” said lead author and animal psychologist Holly Molinaro.

What Did the Study Reveal?

The researchers reached their conclusions through two experiments involving around 300 students and three dogs of different breeds.
The study included dogs named Oliver (a four-year-old mixed breed), Canyon (a one-year-old Catahoula), and Henry (a three-year-old French Bulldog). The animals were placed in situations designed to elevate their mood, induce anxiety, or maintain a neutral state. To boost the dogs’ spirits, the researchers used treats, toys, and promises of visiting “grandma.” To create a negative atmosphere, they employed the sound of a vacuum cleaner and images of cats.
Initially, volunteers were shown images intended to evoke positive, negative, or neutral moods. Then, participants watched short videos featuring the dogs and assessed the animals’ feelings, as reported by BBC Science Focus.
Participants who viewed dogs shown in positive contexts judged the dogs as sad. Conversely, those who saw dogs in negative contexts judged them as happy.
Why our perceptions differ for dogs and humans remains unclear. “Humans and dogs have interacted closely for at least 14,000 years. During this time, dogs have learned a lot about their relationships with people. Yet our research shows there are still significant gaps in our understanding of what dogs feel,” said Dr. Wynne.
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