He acts like he didn't just play outside for three hours...
Do you ever get the feeling your dog has the blues? Dog emotions can be hard to read because our pets can’t use words to explain how they feel. However, most of us have a sense of our dogs’ moods. We read their body language and behavior, and can tell when they’re not feeling their best. Dog sadness is real, but it’s not the same as human sadness. It’s well-established by now that dogs experience emotions. In fact, according to neuroscientist Gregory Berns, “they have feelings very much like we do, even though they don’t have words to describe them.” In other words, dogs do get sad, they just aren’t able to tell us about it.
So how can you tell if your dog is sad? Dogs don’t cry, but they do have other physical responses to feeling unhappy. Here are some physical signs your dog might be sad:
Vocalizations like whines or whimpers
Mopey behavior around things they typically enjoy
Lowered energy
Refusing food or treats
Eyes appear squinty or smaller than usual
A change in sleep patterns or behavior
It’s important to note that the above symptoms also might indicate a medical issue. If your dog’s behavior or energy level changes, your first step should be to call the vet.
Dog emotions are real, but they’re far less nuanced than our human emotions. As Dr. Berns told National Geographic, “Dog brains are not the same as humans. One big difference is in the size. A dog brain is about the size of a lemon, at best…There’s not the same real estate in there, so they can’t do some things we can do.” It’s impossible to know exactly what goes on inside your dog’s head. But it’s safe to assume their experience of sadness is less nuanced than your own. Humans have deeper, more complex emotional and psychological experiences. Dogs, on the other hand, react to their immediate surroundings and experiences. When your dog is sad, they’re likely responding to a change in their routine or environment. Dog sadness can also be caused by a negative experience that caused sadness-adjacent emotions like anxiety or shyness.
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