Can dogs feel jealousy?

french_rap_sucks · 03-23-2004, 01:27 AM

Back when I was a Journalism major I took a magazine writing class in which I tried to submit an article to Dog Fancy. One of the experts I interviewed was a dog trainer who ran a local kennel/training operation. During the interview he told me that jealousy was too complex of an emotion for dogs to experience, which made a lot of sense then and still now. Jealousy does seem to not only be a combination of several emotions but a feeling that recquires complex analytical skills.
But, ever since I found this out and sort of took on the opinion through some more thought of my own I started to talk to people about it. Not necessarily people experienced in any dog related field, but people none-the-less. I always seem to get negative responses; some people eventually sort of agree with me, but some find it to be a down-right offensive statement.
So, anyway, I was wondering what the thoughts are on this board.

mewl · 01:39 AM

I believe they can. I have a few examples in my head right now but I'm too lazy to type them out.

well.............................................. ..........
liz's dogs get jealous of one another. they fight for my affection. when my cousin brought her baby over and my grandma was holding it, badges went apeshit and started yapping at the baby. stttttuuufffffff too lazy.sorrie you dirty bastard

french_rap_sucks · 03-23-2004, 01:32 AM

well, at least you got the post added to your count. unfortunately, you didn't help me at all.

french_rap_sucks · 03-23-2004, 01:36 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ******
yes. my old dog, before she died was not allowed in the house cuz she was so big and all and my newer littler dog was allowed in. one day my old dog took the smaller one in her mouth and tried to killer her like she did a possum

yeah, that's the point that everyone seems to bring up, but when i talked to the trainer about it he said it wasn't anything to do with jealousy, but rather was a territorial instinct that all dogs have, some breeds more than others.

mewl · 03-23-2004, 01:40 AM

postcountohmygawdimgoinginsane

phaedrus · 03-23-2004, 02:35 AM

yes. 100%

i don't even understand how you could say otherwise.

dogs will whine all the time that is jealousy at its simplest.
it's their way of expressing that they want something that you have.

i've heard of all kinds of stories about dogs having a hard time when their owners have children or get another pet too.

french_rap_sucks · 03-23-2004, 02:40 AM

well, i just had someone point out to me that i may be confusing jealousy with envy, which are both very similar. the question i guess is whether you can experience jelousy without envy.
but, i guess what i'm basically getting at is that there are emotions like envy and spite that humans like to assign to animals, but are i believe too complex for dogs to experience.

french_rap_sucks · 03-23-2004, 02:42 AM

envy: painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same advantage

jealous: hostile toward a rival or one believed to enjoy an advantage

also, just because an animal reacts in a similar fashion to a human in the face of a certain condition rarely ever is for the same reasons.

phaedrus · 03-23-2004, 02:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by french_rap_sucks
envy: painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same advantage

jealous: hostile toward a rival or one believed to enjoy an advantage

also, just because an animal reacts in a similar fashion to a human in the face of a certain condition rarely ever is for the same reasons.

yeah i thought about this when i typed out my response. a dog whining is more suggestive of envy since they won't act hostile (usually), however, i still think the fact that dogs will attack other pets who are getting more attention than them is suggestive of jealousy.

ammy · 03-23-2004, 03:22 AM

molly is very polite about table scraps. she will be calm and sweet and wonderful untill one of the cats gets either nearer to the food, or first dibs, she will get really upset at the cat and us for favoring him..

seems a bunch like the basics of jealosy to me...

french_rap_sucks · 03-23-2004, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ammy
molly is very polite about table scraps. she will be calm and sweet and wonderful untill one of the cats gets either nearer to the food, or first dibs, she will get really upset at the cat and us for favoring him..

seems a bunch like the basics of jealosy to me...

did you read anything else in this post besides the heading? things have happened, revelations revealed, directions changed.

ammy · 03-23-2004, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by french_rap_sucks

did you read anything else in this post besides the heading? things have happened, revelations revealed, directions changed.

I did, and then, I posted my view on the matter..

03-23-2004, 01:27 AM	#1
french_rap_sucks Ownz Location: Portland, OR Posts: 809	Can dogs feel jealousy? Back when I was a Journalism major I took a magazine writing class in which I tried to submit an article to Dog Fancy. One of the experts I interviewed was a dog trainer who ran a local kennel/training operation. During the interview he told me that jealousy was too complex of an emotion for dogs to experience, which made a lot of sense then and still now. Jealousy does seem to not only be a combination of several emotions but a feeling that recquires complex analytical skills. But, ever since I found this out and sort of took on the opinion through some more thought of my own I started to talk to people about it. Not necessarily people experienced in any dog related field, but people none-the-less. I always seem to get negative responses; some people eventually sort of agree with me, but some find it to be a down-right offensive statement. So, anyway, I was wondering what the thoughts are on this board. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

03-23-2004, 01:30 AM	#2
mewl Socialphobic Posts: 14,498	I believe they can. I have a few examples in my head right now but I'm too lazy to type them out. well.............................................. .......... liz's dogs get jealous of one another. they fight for my affection. when my cousin brought her baby over and my grandma was holding it, badges went apeshit and started yapping at the baby. stttttuuufffffff too lazy.sorrie you dirty bastard Last edited by mewl : 03-23-2004 at 01:39 AM.

03-23-2004, 01:32 AM	#3
french_rap_sucks Ownz Location: Portland, OR Posts: 809	well, at least you got the post added to your count. unfortunately, you didn't help me at all. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

03-23-2004, 02:40 AM	#7
french_rap_sucks Ownz Location: Portland, OR Posts: 809	well, i just had someone point out to me that i may be confusing jealousy with envy, which are both very similar. the question i guess is whether you can experience jelousy without envy. but, i guess what i'm basically getting at is that there are emotions like envy and spite that humans like to assign to animals, but are i believe too complex for dogs to experience. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

03-23-2004, 02:42 AM	#8
french_rap_sucks Ownz Location: Portland, OR Posts: 809	envy: painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same advantage jealous: hostile toward a rival or one believed to enjoy an advantage also, just because an animal reacts in a similar fashion to a human in the face of a certain condition rarely ever is for the same reasons. __________________ To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

03-23-2004, 01:40 AM	#5
mewl Socialphobic Posts: 14,498	postcountohmygawdimgoinginsane

03-23-2004, 02:35 AM	#6
phaedrus Minion of Satan Location: up there somewhere Posts: 8,014	yes. 100% i don't even understand how you could say otherwise. dogs will whine all the time that is jealousy at its simplest. it's their way of expressing that they want something that you have. i've heard of all kinds of stories about dogs having a hard time when their owners have children or get another pet too.

03-23-2004, 03:22 AM	#10
ammy yer mom Posts: 23,180	molly is very polite about table scraps. she will be calm and sweet and wonderful untill one of the cats gets either nearer to the food, or first dibs, she will get really upset at the cat and us for favoring him.. seems a bunch like the basics of jealosy to me...