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Do Dogs Feel Emotion?

I’ve read quite a few articles/debates recently about whether or not dogs feel emotion. Some argue that they most definitely do, others feel that your dog is simply reacting to your emotions, and not feeling it for themselves. There are a TON of articles out there on this subject, but here is one from Modern Dog Magazine that goes into the some of the science and research of dog emotions.

That said, I absolutely feel that Avy feels various emotions – and they are not just a reflection of how I’m feeling. Yesterday morning is a prime example of that. Tuesday is NOT a dog daycare day for us. Monday is a quiet evening for me so we usually spend time at the park running and playing so Tuesday is a chill day at home while I am at work.

Monday night I had to work late and Avy didn’t get her usual run and play. As a result she was quite anxious Tuesday morning, constantly going to the door and asking to go outside.

Thinking that she had to poop, and feeling annoyed because we had already been outside for a walk and I was now going to be running late, I grabbed Avy’s leash. As soon as I picked up the leash Avy ran to the door with a big grin on her face and started doing what I can only describe as the “I’m going to daycare dance”. I know this dance well, she does it every Wednesday and Friday. Feeling guilty that she hadn’t had a good play Monday night I decided to give her an extra day at daycare and off I went to the car, Avy prancing happily along beside me.

It was pretty clear that Avy was feeling joy/excitement at the idea of going to daycare, and she wasn’t picking up that feeling from me – at the time I was feeling tired and slightly irritated that I was going to have to go on a second walk in the morning. So as far as I’m concerned dogs clearly DO feel emotions.

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