New study clashes with A&M claim that dogs don't have emotions
Updated 4:25 pm, Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Earlier this year, a study out of Texas A&M suggested that all those popular "dog shaming" photos are completely pointless, as dogs are incapable of feeling shame.
This week, a new study from the University of California challenges the notion that pets can't feel human emotions, hinting that your canine friends may be capable of jealousy.
Psychology professor Christine Harris concluded that 36 dogs in her study displayed attention-seeking behavior when their owners ignored them and petted stuffed animals instead.
"When they see a loved one show affection toward another what appears to be a real being, they engage in real behaviors to try and draw the affection back to them," Harris told the Associated Press.
Dr. Bonnie Beaver, who conducted the A&M anti-dog-shaming study, disagrees. She said the attention-seeking behavior is not jealousy but interest in what is going on around them.
Readers, what do you think? Does your dog get jealous? And do the dog-shaming photos in the slideshow above show real emotions? Tell us in the comment section.