Understanding dog emotions might seem intuitive. However, findings from the study by Arizona State University researchers Holly Molinaro and Clive Wynne, which was published on 1 March 2025 in the journal Anthrozoös, suggest that humans are often misled by external factors. The two explored how people perceive dog emotions and the influence of the surrounding context on these perceptions. Their findings challenge the common belief that humans can accurately interpret a dog’s feelings based on behavior alone.
The Hidden Bias in How Humans Perceive Dog Emotions
Background
“For decades, people have assumed they can read their dog’s emotions by observing its facial expressions or body language,” said Molinaro, a Ph.D. student in psychology and animal welfare science. “But our research suggests that context plays a far greater role than previously thought.”
The study consisted of two experiments in which participants watched videos of a dog in positive and negative situations. Researchers examined how the presence or absence of background context influenced the assessments of dog emotions by the participants.
According to Wynne, a psychology professor at ASU, many people rely on situational cues instead of focusing on the dog’s actual behavior. “Instead of paying attention to what the dog is doing, humans often judge emotions based on the surrounding environment,” he said.
Findings
The study included two experiments. Each was designed to isolate the impact of context on emotional perception. A total of 868 undergraduate participants took part.
Experiment 1: The Impact of Context on Emotion Ratings
• Participants viewed videos of a dog in positive situations like receiving a treat and negative situations like being scolded. Some videos included background context. Other videos removed all environmental details.
• The participants rated the emotion of the dog more positively when the background was removed. Videos of positive situations were rated as higher in emotional intensity or emotional arousal when the background was absent.
Experiment 2: The Influence of Mismatched Contexts
• Researchers manipulated videos to place a dog filmed in a positive situation into a negative-looking context or environment and vice versa.
• Regardless of the actual emotional state of the dog, participants rated the dog as happy when the human in the scene was performing a positive action.
• Moreover, when the surrounding context suggested negativity, participants perceived the dog as unhappy even if it was filmed in a positive situation.
These aforementioned findings indicate that people are not inherently good at interpreting dog emotions and rely heavily on external clues rather than the dog’s actual behavior.
Implications for Dog Owners
The study highlights the need for dog owners to reconsider how they interpret the emotions of their pets. Misreading feelings can impact training, bonding, and overall care.
Experts suggest that owners:
• Acknowledge Perception Biases: Recognize that human perception is considerably influenced by context and personal emotions.
• Observe Individual Behaviors: Each dog has unique emotional expressions, and understanding these requires close attention.
• Refrain From Anthropomorphism: Projecting human emotions onto dogs can lead to misinterpretations and misunderstandings.
Molinaro emphasized that developing a better awareness of these biases can lead to a stronger, more accurate connection with one’s pet. “If we start by admitting that we’re not as good at reading dog emotions as we think we are, we can improve our ability to truly understand our pets,” she said. Furthermore, by focusing on the direct behavioral cues of a dog rather than situational context, owners can build a more informed and meaningful relationship with their canine companions.
FURTHER READING AND REFERENCE
- Molinaro, H. G., and Wynne, C. D. L. 2025. “Barking Up the Wrong Tree: Human Perception of Dog Emotions Is Influenced by Extraneous Factors.” In Anthrozoös. 1-22. Informa UK Limited. DOI: 1080/08927936.2025.2469400