
07/03/2025
🧠🐶 What if your dog isn’t jealous… just totally weirded out?
There’s a study floating around again—this one from UC San Diego.
Researchers had owners give affection to a barking stuffed dog, and many real dogs responded by pushing in, interrupting, or even snapping.
So the researchers said: “Dogs get jealous.”
But as a behavior specialist… I’m not convinced.
🔍 What if it wasn’t jealousy at all?
What if the dog was confused?
What if they were trying to make sense of their human sweet-talking something that smelled wrong, moved weird, and clearly wasn’t alive?
So they sniff.
They block.
They snap—not out of jealousy, but because something just doesn’t feel right.
👉 They’re not guarding a bond. They’re trying to restore normal.
But here’s the truth:
💬 Part of me wishes the study were right.
I want to believe dogs are capable of complex emotions like jealousy.
Because doesn’t that mean they love deeply—like we do?
But maybe we’re all just doing what feels safe… what keeps us connected… what brings us comfort.
And maybe that’s love too.
📌 I’ll link the study in the comments if you want to read it yourself.
💬 I’d genuinely love to hear your thoughts:
➡️ Have you ever seen your dog act “jealous”?
➡️ Or do you think they were just trying to make sense of something that didn’t fit?
Let’s talk.👇
A study from UC San Diego found that dogs show real signs of jealousy when their owners give attention to another "pet," even a fake one! 😳
🐾 78% tried to push or touch their owners
🐾 30% got between the owner and the other pet
🐾 Some even snapped at the plush toy dog
Dogs aren’t just being clingy. They’re emotionally connected and feel left out when their bond with you feels threatened. ❤️
So the next time you’re loving on another pet, don’t forget your jealous little buddy watching from the corner 🥺