Dogs may be man’s best friend, but even best friends don’t always agree. But that doesn’t change the fact that there’s no feeling in the world worse than the suffocating fear that your dog, who even hates cats and is as happy with a dislodged tennis ball as Garfield is with lasagne, is angry with you.
You don’t even know why he’s angry with you! If they could tell you what’s wrong, if you could communicate with them like humans, you’d sit down and talk about what’s bothering you over a glass of wine, but alas, that’s just a dream for now. So how can you find out why your dog is angry with you? We can help!
Let’s be clear: are they really capable of feeling anger?
Yes, indeed, it’s not even up for debate. Dogs can feel all 6 basic emotions: sadness, joy, fear, surprise, disgust and anger.
But before you get all broken up, we’ll tell you that your puppy isn’t quite as angry with you as you are with that fellow human who broke your rear-view mirror in a parking lot last week and didn’t even leave a note.
Although dogs undoubtedly feel anger, they do not associate it with blame. So he won’t be lying on the couch with his bush smoking, wondering if you’ve made him look bad in front of the others in the paddock again, or if it’s only Wednesday and you’ve been passing the time with so-called cocktails for the second night in a row.
Moreover, anger is not an emotion that dogs feel too often. What we interpret as anger is probably a precipitation of fear, frustration, disappointment and annoyance at being helpless.
What makes them feel anger?
There are times when dogs get upset and you know exactly why: a stranger starts giving them an unwanted treat at a tram stop or another dog takes their favourite toy. But again, we’re not talking about neurotic anxiety in humans when it comes to this kind of tension. In their case, it’s always simple, pure emotional expressions; they don’t sell sackcloth and tinsel when something upsets them.
So, here’s some good news: you can cross off your list of paranoias that your dog is secretly pissed off at you. They express their feelings as they experience them. If they’re really angry, you’ll know immediately, and you’ll know why.
What about when you go off and leave them alone?
Most owners Google why their dog might be angry with them because they feel guilty about leaving them alone on a regular basis. Are you in a similar situation? Maybe you think it’s because when you get home he doesn’t want to make eye contact with you, pees on the carpet in front of your bed, chews up your favourite high heels or digs up your expensive ficus? However, this destructive behaviour is due to boredom rather than anger. Your four-legged friend needs both physical and mental stimulation every day, and if he doesn’t get enough of it, it may seem like the devil has gotten into him.
Does your dog like it when you go to work? Of course not. A hundred percent he’d prefer you to stay at home with him and just play, walk and nap all day, but that doesn’t make him angry with you. If you are experiencing the above patterns of behaviour, we suggest you get up a little earlier and go for a longer walk, play fetch or hide some reward treats in the playpen for him to find.
However, there are some signs to look out for
He may break the rules by refusing to eat. In this case, your pet will definitely need more attention. You may also notice other unusual behaviours, such as sudden shyness around people he used to like and accept, or particularly loud and intense barking or growling, or even yawning and mouth licking, which may indicate frustration.
The key is not to take any of these behaviours personally. Your pet is signalling to you that something needs to change, and that’s a great thing. As we’ve just written, our best friends don’t hold grudges, so if you pay attention to your four-legged friend’s behaviour and body language at the moment, you’ll know what to avoid. And in the long run, lots of play, walks, spending time together and more ear scratching will show him that you love him and that he’s safe and secure with you.