Overview

• Humans tend to interpret dogs' emotions based on the surrounding context rather than the dogs' actual behavioral cues, a study finds.
• The research, involving nearly 900 participants, showed people often project human emotions onto dogs, further clouding accurate understanding.
• Participants misjudged dogs' emotional states when videos were edited to mismatch the context and the dog's actual behavior.
• Experience with dogs did not necessarily improve emotional accuracy; familiar individuals often downplayed negative cues.
• The findings urge dog owners to focus on specific behavioral signals and acknowledge biases to better understand their pets' emotional states.