Can Dogs Show Jealous Behavior? 

We understand that jealousy in humans is never good and can cause many problems! Have you ever wondered if our four-legged friends can show jealous behavior? Studies have confirmed that dogs do get jealous. The good news is that it isn’t at the same level humans experience, but it still happens. Let’s take a deeper look.

You should be able to identify some common behaviors of jealousy that your dog is portraying. Below are a few examples!

• You are giving a dog attention, and another dog comes over and pushes them out of the way.
• You are allowing a dog to sit in your lap, and it growls at another dog as they come closer.
• You greet a family member or friend with a hug, and the dog forces itself into the mix.

Have you encountered these behaviors before? Jealousy can occur in dogs for various reasons, including a new routine, new pets or people in the home, or a new house or living environment. Dogs can experience many of the same stressors that humans do!

How can you resolve jealousy in dogs? Obedience training will help tremendously! Certain things like “leave it” will help establish leadership you will need to manage situations of jealousy. In extreme jealousy, where your dog is becoming aggressive, you may need to involve a professional trainer or behavioral specialist. These individuals will work hard to identify the root cause of the jealousy and devise a plan to address it.