Dogs are prone to complex emotions such as jealousy and pride, according to scientific research that sheds new light on their relationship with humans.

    Dogs feel intense jealously when they spot that they are unfairly treated.  
 
    Canines do not like seeing their owners offering affection to other creatures, especially other dogs, and react negatively when their owners bring home new partners, the research found.

    Psychologists previously believed most animals lack the "sense of self" needed to experience so-called secondary emotions such as jealousy, embarrassment, empathy or guilt. These emotions are more complex than feelings associated with instant reaction – such as anger, lust or joy.

    Dr Friederike Range, of the University of Vienna's neurobiology department, has shown that dogs feel intense jealously when they spot that they are unfairly treated compared with other dogs. "Dogs show a strong aversion to inequity," she said.

    The dog study is the latest into several species, including cows, horses, cats and sheep, which have shown that animals are far more self-aware than was thought.

    Dr Paul Morris, a psychologist at the University of Portsmouth who studies animal emotions, told The Sunday Times: "We are learning that dogs, horses, and perhaps many other species are far more emotionally complex than we ever realised. They can suffer simple forms of many emotions we once thought only primates could experience."

    In research among dog owners, Dr Morris found almost all of them reported jealous behaviour by their pets. The dog often tried to prise their owner away from a new lover in the early days of a relationship.

    Behavioural experts recommend owners keeping their dog's routine as much as possible when a new partner or child comes along in order to prevent jealous activity from the dog such as interruptions with barking or whining.

    根據(jù)科學(xué)研究，狗同人類的關(guān)系又有了新的認(rèn)識，狗也可能有復(fù)雜情感，諸如嫉妒和驕傲等。

    當(dāng)狗認(rèn)為遭遇不公平對待時，它們會表現(xiàn)出強烈的妒忌。

    研究發(fā)現(xiàn)，犬齒不喜歡看到他們的主人對別的動物尤其是別的狗表示友好，當(dāng)主人帶回新的寵物，它們則反應(yīng)消極。

    心理學(xué)家以前曾認(rèn)為，大多數(shù)動物缺乏體驗所謂的高級情感需求的“自我意識”，比如妒忌、困窘、同理心或內(nèi)疚。這些情感比即時反應(yīng)所關(guān)聯(lián)的情感——例如憤怒、渴望或快樂更為復(fù)雜。

    維也納大學(xué)神經(jīng)生物學(xué)系Friederike Range博士給人演示了，狗認(rèn)為同其他狗相比受到不公平待遇會表現(xiàn)出激烈的妒忌情緒。她說，“面對不公正狗會表示強烈的厭惡。”

    關(guān)于狗的研究是最近才介入的，幾類物種包括牛、馬、貓和羊的研究已表明，動物具有自我意識，遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)超過我們的想象。

    研究動物情感的樸茨茅斯大學(xué)心理學(xué)家Paul Morris博士告訴《星期日泰晤士報》：“我們知道，狗、馬、或許很多其他物種的情感都遠(yuǎn)遠(yuǎn)比我們覺察到的更為復(fù)雜。他們能夠忍受簡單形式的許多情感，而那些情感，我們曾以為只有靈長目動物才會經(jīng)歷。”

    在對狗主人的研究中，Morris博士發(fā)現(xiàn),幾乎所有人都反映他們的寵物有嫉妒行為。在一段關(guān)系開始初期，狗經(jīng)常想從主人新寵那里奪回主人（的關(guān)愛）。

    行為學(xué)專家建議狗主們，當(dāng)一個新伴侶或小孩來到生活中時，為了不讓妒忌行為發(fā)生在狗身上，避免因狗吠或其哀號被打擾，主人應(yīng)盡可能多地與狗保持以往的關(guān)系。