Pet parents far and wide have experienced the “sad puppy face” look: large, sorrowful eyes and raised inner eyebrows that would have you believe your dog is full of sadness on the inside. But, do dogs really feel sad? What emotions, if any, do they feel? These questions have been debated for quite some time, and their answers have a lot to do with how dogs have learned to interact with humans and how a dog’s brain develops.
How Dogs Relate to Humans
The history of dog domestication extends back nearly 30,000 years. During this domestication period, dogs became extremely skilled at observing and responding to human body language. For example, dogs learned to recognize human sadness and respond to it by providing comfort.
In addition to responding to human emotions, dogs became savvy about getting humans to respond to them—pretty tricky! Over time, dog body language evolved to attract positive human attention. Dogs figured out that the “sad puppy face” look led to more positive attention from their human companions. In fact, a 2013 study reported that shelter dogs who could frequently display this particular facial expression were more likely to be re-homed quickly.
Do Dogs Feel Sadness?
Now we know that dogs have mastered how to look sad. But, does a dog who looks sad actually feel that way? This is where science and brain development come in.
Like a human’s brain, a dog’s brain has compartments that are responsible for producing emotion. In addition, a dog’s body has hormones that undergo chemical changes when different emotions are felt. So, it is reasonable to say that dogs do, in fact, have emotions. However, a dog’s emotional range is limited. Scientific studies suggest that a dog’s range of emotions is about the same as that of a 2-year-old child. These emotions include sadness, joy and anger. Dogs can feel sad for several reasons:
- Loss of a human or animal companion
- Trauma or injury
- Underlying medical condition
- Picking up on a human companion’s grief
- Major life change (e.g., new pet, moving into a new home)
Dogs experiencing sadness or grief will become less active, show less interest in things they used to enjoy, have altered eating and sleeping habits and possibly lose weight. They may also become more anxious, clingy or aggressive. A dog who is truly sad likely won’t feel up to putting on the “sad puppy face” to get attention.
How to Help a Sad Dog
If your dog looks like he has the blues, there are a number of ways to cheer him up including taking him for a ride in the car (or doing another activity he likes), buying him a new, engaging toy (like a food puzzle toy) and spending some quality time together. If you believe your dog is grieving the loss of a pet companion, consider setting up playdates with other dogs.
In your effort to help your dog feel happy again, remember to be patient. The sadness won’t go away overnight; in fact, it may be weeks to months before your dog is feeling back to normal.
If your dog’s sadness isn’t getting any better, it may be time to consider medication. Schedule an appointment with your veterinarian to discuss medical ways to improve your dog’s sadness.