Do Dogs Get Jealous? Learn About Resource Guarding

While dogs seem to experience some basic universal emotions like fear, anger, joy, and surprise, there is no definitive proof they can experience secondary emotions that require complex cognition and self-awareness, such as jealousy, shame, or sympathy. Since dog owners tend to anthropomorphize their pets, it’s easy to think you have a jealous dog when their actions are more likely due to two instinctual dog behaviors: attention-seeking and resource guarding.

Attention-seeking and resource guarding can look like signs of jealousy, but the psychological science behind the two behaviors are different.

• Attention-seeking behavior is usually playful. Attention-seeking behavior, also known as connection-seeking, is when a dog tries to get a human’s attention. Attention-seeking behaviors might include jumping, nudging, whining, pawing, barking, dropping items in front of you, nipping or biting at your clothes, or stealing things to get you to engage with them. This behavior is usually playful in nature, but it may seem “jealous” if your dog displays these behaviors when you give your attention to another dog or human.
• Resource guarding behavior is aggressive. Resource guarding is a survival instinct passed down from your dog’s wild ancestors to protect valuable resources, such as food. Resource guarding manifests in aggressive behavior like growling, air-snapping, or biting. Since anxiety and a sense of threat to your dog’s resources causes resource guarding, this behavior is not playful, but you can manage it with behavioral training. Dogs can guard food, special toys or bones, environments (like a comfy bed), and even their favorite people.

If it’s unclear whether your dog’s unwanted behavior stems from resource guarding, attention-seeking, or some other issue, contact an animal behaviorist or trainer for guidance and consider making an appointment with your veterinarian to rule out underlying medical conditions.

Although resource guarding is a natural canine behavior, it can also be dangerous. Always seek help from a board-certified veterinary behaviorist or qualified behavioral consultant when dealing with resource guarding. Fortunately, there are some actions you can take to help manage and prevent resource guarding in your pooch:

• Avoid taking items away from your dog. Your dog can become a resource-guarder if their valuable possessions get taken from them regularly. Avoid taking non-dangerous items away from your dog and allow them to finish their food without interruption. If they get a hold of something dangerous or valuable, exchange the item for treats.
• Avoid testing to see if the behavior has changed. Resource guarding causes your dog a great deal of stress, and triggering it on purpose will make them associate you with the threat. “Testing” your dog can strain their trust in you as their favorite person.
• Consider muzzle training. A muzzle can be a helpful tool in environments that are stressful to your dog. Muzzle training helps your dog develop a neutral or positive association with a muzzle instead of fearing it.
• Know what your dog likes to guard. Take note of resource-guarded items and share the information with anyone who spends time with your dog, such as family members, dog walkers, children, or guests.
• Learn your dog’s body language. Learning dog body language can help you identify early warning signs of aggression before a bite. Subtle cues like lip licks, head turns, yawning, and “whale eye” (showing the whites of the eyes) can alert you to your dog’s discomfort.
• Make a plan to manage their behavior around known triggers. Management might include feeding your pets in separate rooms, so they don’t feel threatened, giving them treats separately, and removing any toys or items that trigger resource guarding. If there are children in the home, you may want to use baby gates or other physical barriers to prevent a child from accidentally triggering this jealous behavior.
• Prepare your dog in advance for a new baby or pet. It’s essential to train your dog in advance if there’s a new addition to your home that they might perceive as a threat. If you have a baby on the way, this might include obedience training while holding a doll, walking with a stroller, playing recorded baby sounds, installing baby gates, and teaching your dog that baby toys are off-limits. If you’re bringing a new dog home, you might introduce them to each other in a neutral environment. Consider feeding your pets in separate rooms until they learn to trust each other.

Attention-seeking behavior is more annoying than threatening to pet parents, but there are still ways you can manage and prevent it:

• Create a routine. Providing your dog with a predictable routine will help them understand what they can expect from you every day. A consistent feeding, walking, and playtime schedule will give them structure and make them less likely to act out.
• Ignore bad behavior. Any attention is good attention to your dog, even if it’s scolding. Avoid reinforcing attention-seeking behavior by ignoring it altogether. Only ignore your dog if you have already met their needs for the day and ruled out any discomfort or pain.
• Occupy your dog during times that trigger attention-seeking. If you have a friend over or are engaging in an activity where you need quiet, give your dog something else to focus on, such as a bone to chew or a toy filled with peanut butter. You can also use baby gates or tethers to stop attention-seeking behavior during important events.
• Provide enriching environments. Provide your dog with plenty of outlets to express natural calming behaviors, like sniffing, licking, and chewing. Meet your specific dog’s needs by engaging their mind with puzzles, exposing them to enriching environments, and giving them opportunities to play.
• Reward good behavior. If your dog approaches you for attention without resorting to unwanted attention-seeking behavior, reward them with some cuddles, petting, and treats. Reinforce your dog for calm behaviors, like lying down on a mat while guests visit, by giving them treats and praise.
• Spend more time with your dog. Spending time with your dog will reduce pushy behavior naturally since you’re giving them exactly what they want: your attention. If you’ve met your dog’s needs and they still engage in unwanted attention-seeking behaviors, a qualified trainer can help you formulate a plan to address the attention-seeking.

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