In some way, we all have the idea that a happy dog will behave well, since the state of well -being and the absence of stress visibly influence the behavior of any individual.
What is happiness?
Happiness is not something as complicated as we humans insist on thinking.
At least for our dogs and other nonhuman animals, happiness is much simpler. Something that coincides with the welfare state. This means that happiness consists of being physically, mentally and emotionally healthy .
physical health
Pain hinders happiness
Veterinary care, as well as proper hygiene and nutrition are essential to ensure the happiness of your dog.
Pain hinders happiness, so it is important to consider it.
Mental health
A dog that thinks is a happy dog
Dogs don’t just need to exercise their muscles to feel good.
Neurons are just as important to your happiness.
The innate hunting behavior that dogs have is a highly cognitive process that requires the use of a good part of their rational brain. Being able to perform this type of behavior naturally and without stress keeps them in balance. For this reason, dogs that live and work in the countryside are calm and balanced.
In our cities, it is sometimes difficult for them to show these specific behaviors naturally and for this reason it is important to provide them with toys and moments of leisure where they can use that part of their brain that has been written in their DNA for so many years.
A dog that uses its mouth is a happy dog.
From a motivator or a ball to chase and play… to games from which to get food. Also lick or bite a snack. Everything that is empowering your mouth is focused on making your dog happy.
A dog that uses its sense of smell is a happy dog.
No one doubts that smell is the main sense of dogs. Through their powerful sensory organ, dogs collect a significant amount of information from the environment.
Some people don’t like their dog sniffing another dog’s ass or sniffing at the molecules that come out of every piss-filled corner…
However, science has shown that dogs that sniff are more optimistic and productive than those that only do other types of activities.
emotional health
A dog that adaptively manages its emotions is a happy dog
Emotions are part of our day to day life. Feeling fear, joy, sadness or anger is normal and healthy. What prevents happiness is when these emotions dominate your behavior. This prevents you from using the rational part of the brain in decision making and leads to maladjustment.
The same thing happens to dogs. A dog that is afraid of other dogs and barks desperately every time it comes across one. He can’t be happy. Likewise, a dog that loses its head over a ball and sees nothing else when there is one in front of it cannot be happy.
Emotional balance is essential for happiness.
A dog that feels and shows affection is happy
And these displays of affection are not how we humans understand them. Dogs don’t like kisses or hugs. Not even caresses in many cases.
But all dogs are happy when they have access to their families, live at home with us and enjoy our company.
They are happy when we talk to them in a friendly tone and when we play with them throughout the day.
We cannot forget that our dog is a social animal. Having this need covered will undoubtedly make you happier.
A dog with friends is happier
A dog is an animal that undoubtedly feels happy among humans. However, having at least one friend of your species will make you happier, by giving vent to your social nature with your conspecifics.
It is not necessary to greet all the dogs in the neighborhood. Your dog may not like all of them. But at least one friend that you see regularly will make your dog a happier individual.
References:
Duranton, C., & Horowitz, A. 2019. Let me sniff! Nosework induces positive judgment bias in pet dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 211, 61-66.
