Jealousy is not only characteristic of humans — similar emotions can be experienced by domestic dogs. The Dog Breeds website listed nine behavioral signs that may indicate that a pet is jealous of its owner.
One of the most noticeable manifestations is aggression. A dog may try to bite a person or another animal if it feels that its owner is paying attention to them. In some cases, jealousy is expressed through breaking rules — the pet may start relieving itself in places where it is prohibited, thus trying to attract attention to itself.
Some dogs become excessively clingy: they constantly follow their owner, snuggle up to them, and do not leave their side. Another variant of behavior is intrusiveness. The animal may obstruct other people or pets from moving, as well as interfere during moments when the owner is interacting with someone else.
In families with multiple pets, jealousy often leads to growling and fighting among the animals. Another signal is attempts to scare off strangers: a dog may bark or growl when guests or unfamiliar people arrive at the house.
Sometimes, the pet tries to gain attention in a demonstrative way — for example, by starting to perform familiar tricks. It can also happen that a dog invades its owner's personal space: it jumps on the table, lies on the keyboard, knocks things over, or stands on its hind legs, looking pitifully.
In the most severe cases, jealousy can lead to a depressive state. Then the dog appears dejected, avoids interaction, and becomes withdrawn.
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