Emotions and the expected behaviors

Emotions are short-term physiological reactions to an existing and immediately perceived stimulus (heartbeat, sweating, panting, breathing, digestion).

We are sure that dogs feel these six emotions: anger, disgust, joy, fear, surprise, sadness. Others are also likely to be in their panel: frustration, impatience, jealousy.

In humans, we find the same emotions. If it is possible to learn to control the behaviors associated with emotions, to settle different strategies, to condition the brain to perceive stimuli differently and therefore feel other emotions, the very principle of an emotion is that it is not controllable.

In humans, we can sometimes see excessive reactions: someone cuts you off, passes you and suddenly slows down, you win several million, a stranger puts a hand on your crotch, you want to peeeeeeee, your deserved promotion was given to a colleague who steals your work, the person dearest to your heart dies suddenly; and I could cite many more examples. In the dog world, you just need to say words or phrases such as "dominance", "it's not all in you raise them", "it's not all the fault of the owners", "playing with a ball”, so that you observe emotional reactions without rationalities.

Now, take just one of those examples, and imagine being asked, or even demanded, that you show no emotion.

That's what I sometimes hear or read about dogs: they should never be excited or frustrated, scared or impatient. Human beings are in an era of acknowledging with they feel, but deny the same to dogs. If Doggy is not able to adapt when he feels frustration or excitement, then the problem is not his emotions, but his abilities to cope with them.

When training, I do not prevent dogs from feeling emotions, but I guide them and teach their humans how to guide them. It is more important for me that dogs acquire a range of skills, instead of constantly diverting them or making them avoid certain situations that would put them at fault, so that the day comes when it is not possible to control everything (oops), they are able to cope.