Envy is a dog’s life, study finds

The following article was published on AFP/Reuters (9.12.08):

“Dogs can sniff out unfair situations and show an emotion similar to envy or jealousy, according to Austrian researchers.

Dogs sulked and refused to “shake” paws if other dogs got treats for tricks and they did not, says Dr Friederike Range, an animal psychologist at the University of Vienna, who led the study into canine emotions.

“It is a more complex feeling or emotion than what we would normally attribute to animals,” says Range.

The study, which was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, also showed dogs licked and scratched themselves and acted stressed when they were denied rewards given to other dogs.

Other studies have shown monkeys often express resentful behaviour when a partner receives a greater reward for performing an identical task, staging strikes or ignoring what they view as inferior compensation.

It turns out dogs are able to show a similar, if less sensitive, response, says Range.

Uneven rewards

In a series of experiments using different breeds of dogs, the researchers looked at how two animals sitting next to each other reacted to unequal rewards after handing a paw to a researcher.

They observed that the dogs did not seem to care if they were only given bread after the other dog was given sausage.

But dogs not given a treat licked their mouths, yawned, scratched and showed other signs of stress and stopped performing the task, says Range.

“It was not the presence of the second dog but the fact that the partner received the food that was responsible for the change in the subjects’ behaviour,” she says.

“The fact that the subjects refused earlier and hesitated longer to obey the command to give the paw to the experimenter when the partner received a reward but they themselves did not … suggests that dogs are sensitive to an unequal reward distribution.”

To show this was not just because the animals were not getting food, the researchers then tested the dogs alone and found that in this situation the envious canines cooperated longer before stopping.

“It is really about the unequal distribution of the reward,” Range says. “If it was only about frustration they would stop at the same time.”

Comment from Sara Rooney, Dog Naturopath www.animalnaturopath.com.au

This research seems to be a bit cruel and needless to me. I can’t see what benefit there would be to tease and frustrate dogs like this, just to see if they ‘envy’ other dogs. I would have thought this is an inbuilt survival mechanism in all living beings (i.e. To want to receive what the others are having in order to survive), so I still don’t think this proves that dogs would be experiencing the emotion of ‘envy’ and, even if they were, is it really important?

Tell me what you think about this type of research. Do you think universities should be funding these kind of studies?

Please consult a qualified animal naturopath for advice about nutritionally-balanced diets and naturopathic medicines for the treatment of animals. 

Yours In Great Health,

Sar Rooney BHSc., DC., ND., DASc., GDSc. (Hons) Zoology, MHATO, MATMS

Naturopathic Practitioner, Researcher, Lecturer, Canine Naturopath

Science-Based Naturopathy for Canine Wellbeing 

Canine naturopathic health care with a clinical focus on skin conditions, inflammatory bowel disorders, chronic infections, arthritis and disease prevention.

Helping dogs achieve optimal wellness with personalised, professional naturopathic health care and individually-prescribed high-quality herbal medicines and supplements 

Appointments are available by email, phone & skype

Want to keep up to date on the latest in dog health? Join me on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/DogNaturopath

Disclaimer: The information provided is not intended to replace any veterinary or medical advice or treatment.