How well do we understand out dogs? The RSPCA has raised concerns about the public’s understanding of dogs after a survey found that one in give people “don’t believe dogs can experience sadness or boredom” – with a third believing dogs do not feel worry.
Over two-thirds (69 per cent) of the respondents describe themselves as ‘animal-lovers’, with 92 per cent acknowledging them as sentient beings. However, there is room for improvement.
Esme Wheeler, dog behaviourist and RSPCA dog welfare expert, said, “Dogs are often labelled as man’s best friend and are widely understood to be sentient, social and highly intelligent and emotionally intuitive.
“I’m really pleased that the Animal Kindness Index found that 92% of people agreed that dogs were sentient and that so many people believed dogs could feel a range of emotions, including happiness and fear (both 86%), as well as sadness (80%) and worry (69%).
“However, what is concerning is that this means there are still large numbers of people who do not believe that dogs can feel basic negative emotions, and this may mean that many dogs could be suffering or struggling without recognition.
“If approximately a fifth of people believe dogs don’t feel sadness or boredom and around a third do not believe dogs feel worry, then there could be millions of sad and worried dogs living in the UK, and that’s a really sad thought, particularly given the surge in dog ownership that we saw over the last few years.”
The Animal Kindness Index found that:
86% believe dogs can feel fear;
86% believe dogs can feel happiness;
83% believe dogs can feel love towards people;
80% believe dogs can feel sadness;
80% believe dogs can feel boredom;
73% believe dogs can feel jealousy;
71% believe dogs can feel anger;
71% believe dogs can feel love towards other dogs;
69% believe dogs can feel worry.
Esme added, “We know most people understand the signs our dogs give us to indicate that they’re happy; such as waggy tails, relaxed body postures, and play-bows. But it can be easy for owners to miss the subtle signs that indicate that our dogs are worried or sad; especially if people don’t believe they’re capable of such emotions.
“If your dog holds their head low, tucks their tail, pushes their ears back, yawns, licks their lips or avoids eye contact then these can all be signs that they’re feeling worried. It’s really important to learn these signs so you can help your dog be as happy as possible, and so you can avoid difficult situations or unwanted behaviours such as aggression.
“Sadly, everyday aspects of life can be difficult for some dogs – such as loud noises, unknown visitors to the house, or being left home alone – so understanding that our dogs can feel these emotions and knowing the signs to look out for can help us to help them. And let’s face it, we all love our dogs so much that we just want them to be happy!”