Just because a dog is jealous doesn't necessarily mean he's possessive or protective. The jealous dog sees other people or pets as a rival for your attention and love. He tries to force himself in between you and someone else or another pet.
Whether you're physically interacting with another dog or come home after being around one, your dog's jealousy stems from their loyalty to you, whom they consider to be their pack leader.
A jealous dog wants all of your attention and affection, so they'll intervene when they sense a rival for your love. For example, if you try to pet another dog, your pup may shove their rival out of the way so your hand touches their head instead.
Indications that your dog is feeling jealousy may include whining or vocalizations when you show affection for another animal or a person, pushing another animal out of the way to get attention for themselves, refusal to obey, and sometimes even signs of depression and a loss of appetite.
"The goal is to teach the dog that it will receive a favored treat or reward that is even more appealing than the object in its possession." Approaching calmly, offering a food reward and taking the possession, praising the puppy and returning the object teaches the puppy that your actions are not to be feared.
“Sometimes, just like people, they can feel insecure,” Dr. Broderick explains. “They need individual attention, lots of cuddling, and activities to keep them busy and to keep them from being bored. Sometimes, our pets just want us, and they don't want to share us with another pet or person.”
Dogs are inherently social animals that live well together in groups, but that does not mean that all dogs get along. Most dogs will welcome a new sibling, but it is not always smooth sailing. The furry family member you have now will face many changes when a new dog enters the picture and may feel a bit displaced.
Dogs do not urinate or defecate out of spite or jealousy. The unfamiliar scents and sounds of a new home may be stressing and he feels the need to reaffirm his claim on his territory. Likewise, if your dog urinates on your new boyfriend's backpack it does not reflect his opinion of your taste in men.
They Have a Protective or Anxious Nature
Pups who have not been fully socialized may be aloof, suspicious, and wary of strangers—and they're also more likely to be vocal or engage in aggressive behavior when their human interacts intimately with someone they don't know well.
Dog owners have long claimed their dogs show jealous behaviours when their owner gives attention to another dog, ranging from vocalisations, agitated behaviour or pulling on a leash. Now a study from the University of Auckland, published in Psychological Science, supports the claim.
A dog's jealous behavior likely stems from the fact that they are pack creatures and while they see you as their pack leader, they are always jockeying to be next in line.
According to experts, many breeds of dogs are prone to jealousy in response to their owners' attention being diverted. Their naturally affectionate personalities can prevent them from stepping back, which can often lead to your dog displaying jealous tendencies towards you or your partner.
In dogdom, there's a turn of phrase called, "Second Dog Syndrome". This describes the process of adding another dog to the home quite well, but not necessarily in a positive light. As humans, we are bound to forget all of the time and effort it takes to raise a puppy right.
Most dogs dislike being touched on top of the head and on the muzzle, ears, legs, paws and tail. Slow petting, similar to gentle massage or light scratching, can calm a dog down.
If his tail is stiff or tightly tucked, he's uncomfortable. You can't always trust a wagging tail, either—if the hair is raised on the center of his back or his ears are pinned back and there is still some tail wagging, the dog is likely nervous and you should proceed with caution.
Can Dogs Get Jealous? In short, dogs do get jealous, and those feelings of jealousy are strikingly similar to human jealousy. You may be able to read some of your dog's emotions through their body language, such as happiness or sadness.
Your dog is used to being your companion, and if there are other dogs that are taking you away, they are going to act upset, jealous, and even angry. This new puppy is also on their territory, and they may feel like their life is in jeopardy. This behavior is perfectly normal.
They like to snuggle up close to one another and fall asleep
"If they are sleeping with each other and snuggled up together — really truly making contact with each other — then that's an obvious sign that there's true affection between the animals," Nelson explained.
Do not punish or reward territorial behavior; ignore it, wait for calm, then reward. Repeat often over a period of time, with various people and dogs. When your dog learns that other people and dogs are not a threat, that anxiety is not necessary, and that calm behavior is rewarded, territorial behavior will diminish.
However, there's no guarantee that an aggressive dog can be completely cured. In many cases, the only solution is to manage the problem by limiting a dog's exposure to the situations, people or things that trigger her aggression. There's always risk when dealing with an aggressive dog.
It simply means they're having a great time. Your dog might even growl during a particularly pleasing cuddle or patting session. Many dogs growl talk to communicate contentment or as a greeting. These types of growls simply indicate happiness.