Do Dogs Understand Fairness
We have four dogs. I love them all but I admit to having favorites. Trooper is clearly “my” boy and we spend lots of time together doing special things like agility. Don’t get me wrong, I love them all very dearly. Kodiak is my “first born” and his attitude cracks me up. Quinn is the queen. And Timber is my sweet rescue (always into something) baby boy.
But when it comes to picking one or two dogs to go with us somewhere I tend to prefer taking Trooper. He’s easier for me to deal with and better behaved than the rest. My mother in law HATES this and always says that it’s unfair and the other dogs are going to be jealous.
Really???
Do dogs get jealous?
I mean, I know that Trooper gets jealous in the moment…like when he sees me giving attention to Timber. Or when he’s at daycare and trying to be the center of attention and starting fights (yes it happened again the last time he was there). But in the long term? Do they really get jealous?
I have no idea.
I just called Timber inside from the yard and he came right when I said “Timber, Come” so I wanted to give him a cookie. So far we’ve averted two run away situations by shaking the cookie bag. Thank God my dogs love cookies.
So I walk to the cookie jar and the other three dogs run up to get their reward. Reward for what!?! They didn’t earn it. They didn’t do anything. I didn’t call them. So I gave Timber and Trooper a cookie and that’s it. The other two didn’t seem overly miffed. But it does make me wonder. Do you think they “know” somehow in their being that they got shafted?
They both need to lose weight (actually, so does Trooper) and I know when papa gets up he’ll automatically give them treats. It’s not like they’re deprived or anything.
December 4th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
I think they get jealous, but only in the moment, like you said. Like, mostly with attention. You know how one will come and nudge the other out of the way when you are petting him?
But as far as getting jealous when one gets to go along somewhere and the other doesn’t, I think that’s giving them too much credit. They might be thinking, “I want to go!” But they won’t be thinking, “Why does he get to go and not me?”
December 6th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Opposite to you I have to take the naughtiest dog (Faye) with me most when I go out. She is the only one not to be trusted in the house (shoe access is easily available)!
They don’t seem to understand favourites at all. It is just a matter of them not wanting to miss out on a journey although our pupster is still shy about getting in the car so she misses out the most on adventures as there is still a slight nervous wee problem with the little pup monster.
January 6th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
an interesting take on what the fairness research actually reveals
http://www.naturaldogtraining.com/articles/do-dogs-have-a-sense-of-fairness/