Is My Dog Mad at Me?

If you come home and your pooch doesn't greet you as usual or if the place looks like it's been hit by a tornado, you might think that your dog is mad at you for leaving. Here's what you need to know about dogs and anger, and how to tell if your dog is upset.

Dogs and Anger

It turns out that the question of whether your dog is mad at you or not is the wrong question to ask. While dogs can indeed get upset by a situation, they don't get mad at someone in the same way that you do. According to HealthyPsych, anger is what psychologists refer to as a secondary emotion, which is a human response to primary emotions like fear and sadness. Anger is too complex a feeling for dogs to truly experience; however, dogs are capable of experiencing the more basic emotions that humans use anger to hide.

Dogs also don't assign blame in the way that humans do, says Cuteness. While your dog might make associations between an object or a situation and the feelings they inspire — for example, a puppy might trip down steps and get hurt while carrying a toy and then associate the toy with something harmful — they don't actually think about it being the object's fault. It simply doesn't occur to your pooch to blame you for what's making them unhappy.

Signs That Your Dog Is Upset

Your dog may try to communicate that they're upset in ways that make them seem angry with you. But more likely than not, they're simply trying to convey their feelings and looking to you to stop the source of their distress.

Here are common dog behaviors that are often mistakenly interpreted as anger toward a pet parent.

Chewing Furniture

What it might mean: Rather than an attempt to get revenge, your dog is probably bored and making a desperate attempt at amusement in the absence of company or other entertainment.

What you should do: Make sure to provide your pup with toys when you leave them alone. The best kind of toy is interactive, like a puzzle or treat-dispensing toy. Leaving the radio or TV on can also help your pup feel less lonely. A video or voice recording of yourself is even better.

Growling or Snarling

What it might mean: Growling is usually your dog's way of letting you know that something is upsetting them, and they want it to stop, according to Reader's Digest. Dogs growl for various reasons that have nothing to do with anger, such as resource guarding. You'll be able to tell if this is the cause if they growl over food or a toy that they fear you or another animal might take from them. Similarly, you might hear a growl if you make them move from a comfortable spot.

What you should do: Don't punish or yell at your dog for growling. Doing so could make the behavior worse or frighten them into snapping or biting. Instead, stay calm and ignore the behavior. If you need to take something away from a resource-guarding dog, try to distract them with a treat while you remove the object, suggests iHeartDogs. Watch for other signs of aggression, such as showing the whites of their eyes, flattened ears, repetitive lip licking or bared teeth. If you see any of these signs, leave your dog alone and wait for them to lose interest in the object. Otherwise, you risk getting bitten.