Have you ever observed your very dog acting unusually when you pay more attention to some other animal or a new family member, like a toddler or baby? It almost seems like your furry friend is getting jealous.
Well, many people often question experts about this: “Does a dog feel jealous, or are we humans just assuming it because we have similar feelings?”
As a matter of fact, dogs do indeed have the tendency to get jealous, and any owner who wants to build a calm and trustworthy relationship with their dogs must take this trait of dogs very seriously.
Read this article to know some facts that lie behind dog jealousy and how you may handle it:
Common Ways Dogs Show That They’re Jealous
Dogs are quite expressive when it comes to projecting their jealousy. Mostly subtle, given below are some typical ways that dogs use to express jealousy:
- Barking or whining when attention is paid elsewhere
- Pushing in between you and another pet or person
- Being needy, clingy, and incessantly craving more attention
- Destroying the toys or belongings of their “rival” (if they reside in the same house)
It is of utmost importance to diagnose such signs as early as possible. This is because their jealousy might turn into severe behavioral problems if not corrected at the beginning.
How to Handle Jealousy in Dogs?
Now that you know that dogs do get jealous, resolving their jealousy is an important trait to establish an enriching and happy relationship with your four-legged friend.
Below are some ideas on how to handle jealousy in dogs:
1. Pay Equal Attention
Give equal respect and appreciation to all your pets. Set aside time to be with each of them alone so that they perceive your love for them.
2. Always Provide Positive Reinforcement
Make sure to reward your dog for each of their good behaviors; this gives them a lot of assurance, and they tend to get agitated while you interact with others.
3. Set Limits, But Don’t Overdo It
Create certain boundaries so that they don’t get jealous. For example, if your dog has a habit of hiding toys of your other pet, make sure to train them not to do it and reward them with treats and praise.
Slowly but steadily, they’ll learn that and not repeat such mischief out of jealousy.
4. Socialisation and Training Is MANDATORY
As a responsible pet parent, you must make sure your dog socializes properly and trains them physically and mentally to keep them healthy. Take your dog out to the park, and make them play with other pets. It allows them to relax and be friendly among other animals.
You must also give proper training to your dogs along with your other pets at the same time. Try to keep them under consistent training and reward each of them EQUALLY every time. This way, you can help your dog learn positive behaviors and reduce feelings of jealousy.
If you continue to observe that these jealousy issues do not end with time, you can also try consulting with a professional dog trainer or experienced veterinarian, who can help with these emotional or behavioral issues before they turn aggressive and harm someone.
Conclusion
Jealousy is a natural and instinctive feeling in dogs. They exist with a keen intuition to fortify the social bonds and safeguard the affection they receive from their owners.
Knowing a dog’s jealousy symptoms and knowing when it is triggered may help to fully curb such feelings. With practice, patience, constant training, and a plethora of positive reinforcement, jealousy can either be diminished or avoided altogether, resulting in a calm and happy dog.
Always remember, you must never impinge on your dog’s playtime, eating time, and training time. Even though you might have other pets or babies, or guests to look after, your dog should be your priority every single day.
