Dogs...

The Dog Daily: Canine ConductDogs and Jealousy By Scott Rose for The Dog DailyFor ages, many animal experts held that all dog behavior, including possible jealous tendencies, stemmed from instinct rather than emotions, but new research is proving that theory wrong. So, if you recently brought a new friend or another pet into your life, and your dog suddenly seems less than friendly, you may just have a jealous pooch on your hands.Paul Morris, PhD, a psychologist and animal behavior expert at the University of Portsmouth in England, determined that certain animals, including dogs, experience a wide array of emotions. Along with jealousy, these emotions include anger, anxiety, surprise, pride, embarrassment and shame. While cats, pigs, horses, rabbits and hamsters also seem to get jealous, dogs appear to feel this emotion more often and with greater intensity. Dog owners who were included in the study consistently reported that their dogs pushed in between themselves and third party rivals for their attention. Scientists as of yet can't communicate with dogs to know what they are truly feeling, but the evidence so far suggests that canine emotions -- including jealousy -- are comparable to what we experience."All we can do is look at behavior and context," Morris said. "Both the behavior and the contexts observed are consistent with current scientific definitions of jealousy. I suspect that a highly social species such as the dog has a very developed repertoire of social emotions." He and others plan to study animal emotions more in future. Meanwhile, what should you do if you suspect your dog is feeling jealous? Here are a few guidelines: 1. Recognize the signsLike a spurned lover, your dog will have a hard time containing itself if it feels jealous. Sulking, snarling, growling, fighting and sluggishness can be symptoms of jealousy. Some dogs even get so upset that they stop eating. In that case, be sure to schedule a veterinary check-up to rule out possible medical causes. 2. Maintain routinesYou likely have a daily routine for interacting with your dog, even if you did not establish this routine consciously. Think back to what your schedule and habits were like before the new pet or person was introduced and, whenever possible, try to reestablish that pattern with your dog. Routine is important to your dog because its jealousy, in part, comes from fear of losing its place in your life. By continuing to feed, walk, and play with your dog according to a normal schedule, you reassure your pet of its place in your heart. 3. Give extra attentionTry to spend even more time with your dog than usual during the transitional period. If the subject of your dog's jealousy is another person, encourage that individual to play, pet and otherwise positively interact with your dog as much as possible. 4. Reinforce basic trainingYour dog thinks of you as part of its pack. Now it must share you with another individual. You must remain the leader, so gently show your dog who is boss by verbally scolding negative behavior as soon as it starts. At the same time, reward positive behavior with sweet talk, head rubs, and treats, especially if your dog makes an effort to socialize with your new pack member. 5. EmpathizeWhether the object of your dog's jealousy is a new pup or person, try to remember that from your dog's perspective, it was with you first. Your dog has attempted to earn your loyalty and affection over the years, while sharing those same gifts with you. Its jealousy is actually a measure of how much it values both you and its position within your now-growing pack. Dogs (Waters, Gilmour) 17:06 You gotta be crazy, you gotta have a real need.You gotta sleep on your toes, and when you're on the street,You gotta be able to pick out the easy meat with your eyes closed.And then moving in silently, down wind and out of sight,You gotta strike when the moment is right without thinking.And after a while, you can work on points for style.Like the club tie, and the firm handshake,A certain look in the eye and an easy smile.You have to be trusted by the people that you lie to,So that when they turn their backs on you,You'll get the chance to put the knife in.You gotta keep one eye looking over your shoulder.You know it's going to get harder, and harder, and harder as youget older.And in the end you'll pack up and fly down south,Hide your head in the sand,Just another sad old man,All alone and dying of cancer.And when you loose control, you'll reap the harvest you have sown.And as the fear grows, the bad blood slows and turns to stone.And it's too late to lose the weight you used to need to throw around.So have a good drown, as you go down, all alone,Dragged down by the stone.I gotta admit that I'm a little bit confused.Sometimes it seems to me as if I'm just being used.Gotta stay awake, gotta try and shake off this creeping malaise.If I don't stand my own ground, how can I find my way out of thismaze?Deaf, dumb, and blind, you just keep on pretendingThat everyone's expendable and no-one has a real friend.And it seems to you the thing to do would be to isolate the winnerAnd everything's done under the sun,And you believe at heart, everyone's a killer.Who was born in a house full of pain.Who was trained not to spit in the fan.Who was told what to do by the man.Who was broken by trained personnel.Who was fitted with collar and chain.Who was given a pat on the back.Who was breaking away from the pack.Who was only a stranger at home.Who was ground down in the end.Who was found dead on the phone.Who was dragged down by the stone.