Emotions in dogs: why it became such a hot topic and what’s really behind that narrative?
A few years ago, I noticed a lot of talk about emotions in dogs. Suddenly many trainers started to bring that argument into the training discussions with the intent of explaining bad behaviors. You can probably see how well this is going so far. Dogs are getting worse, and training has become such a confusing concept for owners that it is hard to believe real dog trainers are still out there fighting for the truth. So, what is all that talks about emotions and how does it play a role in the new dog owner’s journey? Let’s get into it.
The narrative that involves emotions sounds like this: “Your dog pees and poops in the house because he’s upset with you.” Or “Your dog bites because he’s frustrated so you need to let him get it all out”, or “a dog that is quiet is probably depressed because he cannot do what he wants to do.”. They constantly use the expression high or positive emotions and low or negative emotions. The idea is to correlate those arguments with behaviors (good and bad) based on emotional interpretation versus rational. This is simply manipulation and an attempt to trigger a projection of feelings from the owner to the animal, making the animal, and all its behaviors, become the translation of what the owner wants to see versus the reality of it. Where’s the danger in that?
Well first it’s fantasy, not reality. Dogs do not have the ability to introspect and feel deep emotions as humans do. Dogs are not intellectual beings, nor do they have the capability to quantify and measure feelings like we do. Dogs are animals and predators. The interpretation and comprehension of their nature is much simpler and objective. Dogs create bonds with people because they are highly adaptable, plus they prioritize survival over anything else. It is in their nature to find a pack and become stable in it to guarantee their wellbeing. That is not to say they don’t feel anything, but what moves them and motivates them is much more related to the roots of their predatory species than anything else.
So, what is all the confusion about?
Every narrative that involves emotions has one simple objective behind it: make the human emotional and unable to carry on proper training because of their own feelings of guilt. Because humans have rational emotions, every argument that involves emotions is going to trigger a reaction that is purely emotion based. This creates a projection that makes humans see bad behaviors in dogs in a completely different light. Now everything that bothered them about the dog has an emotional justification attached to it, so a disciplinary reaction becomes harder to achieve. In that realm just about anything can be justified, from pulling on the leash, to using the bathroom in the house, to lunging and even attacking people. In order to avoid corrections and change in structure people are being told to accept it because there is some kind of emotion behind it.
It is crucial to be aware of that narrative because it is not only present in the dog training world, but also everywhere. The modern-day generation is being taught to accept just about anything that comes with an emotional justification, for their own detriment. Dogs are just a by product of that and we are here to make sure people don’t fall for that trap. Dogs are strong beings, the same way as we are. We can, and we deal with discipline and rules all the time, everywhere, and we learn how to navigate the world according to those rules and determinations. Dogs are no different. Discipline and rules guarantee their survival, and they desperately look for it when they come to live with us. When we deny them that in the name of emotions and projection, we are doing a disservice to them, that can truly cost their lives.
