We live in a society where people constantly fight for injustice. Online petitions shed light on unjust happenings with both people and animals. Our justice system is overwhelmed with cases of mistreated animals and individuals who deserve better treatment.
While humans show their support for dogs all around the world, we must wonder if dogs themselves have a sense of injustice
. Do they have an unspoken code of conduct when one of them does something wrong at the dog park? It’s time to explore how dogs perceive and feel injustice.
Signs a Dog Recognizes Injustice
Dogs are connected to humans and have learned to understand how we think through centuries of domestication. They may not say much, but their eyes and body language speak volumes. Notice how your Pug tilts their head when they see you sad. They may whine or whimper to show that they understand.
For a long time, this simple action was dismissed until the scientific community took interest in studying dogs. They wanted to understand how dogs think, feel, and react. The results were groundbreaking: dogs have feelings similar to humans.
It’s unfortunate that it took so long for us to acknowledge what our furry friends have always known. As intelligent beings, we have navigated the complexities of life on Earth, yet sometimes we struggle to grasp the simplest things.
Now the question is: can dogs feel injustice? Let’s say yes. If you have multiple dogs in your home, it’s evident that they understand the concepts of honor and fairness.
For example, Luke, your Welsh Corgi, loves treats just like Leia, your Miniature Bull Terrier. When treats are being handed out, Luke quickly devours them while Leia takes her time. This leads to an imbalanced treat distribution, and Luke paces around the kitchen, feeling wronged. His grumpy face, furrowed brow, and twitchy nose clearly demonstrate his sense of unfairness. Luke play-bows and raises his paw, hoping justice will prevail.
Body Language
Signs that a dog senses injustice include:
– Whining
– Pacing
– Furrowed brow
– Twitching whiskers
– Whimpering
– Raised paw
– Play-bowing
Other Signs
Additional signs that a dog feels injustice include:
– Acting distressed when sensing unfair treatment
– Attempting to rectify the situation
– Looking to their human for help
History of Dogs Understanding Injustice
To understand how dogs perceive injustice, we can look at their ancestors, wolves. The Wolf Science Center in Vienna studies the evolution of dogs and wolves. Researchers at the center, as well as K Magazine, suggest that dogs inherited their sense of injustice from wolves, not humans.
Wolves, legendary creatures that inspire awe and spiritualism, live in packs and usually mate for life. They share traits with humans, caring for their young and forming ethical communities with supportive bonds. However, in this era, we have not honored the bond between humans and wolves, denying them their right to survive.
According to Psychology Today, the animal kingdom provides insight into unique justice and morality systems. For example, a group of elephants was recorded freeing antelopes from an enclosure. The leader of the group unlatched the gate and let the animals go free.
Charles Darwin believed that animals with social aptitude were capable of moral consciousness. In the book “Wild Justice: The Moral Lives of Animals,” the author explains that it was initially thought that wolves determined pack size based on food resources. However, researchers have discovered that wolves form packs based on compatible bonds, providing justice for those who go against the pack.
Psychology Today also shared a story of empathy among animals. When two baby mice were stuck in a sink, the director of the Indiana Coyote Rescue Center showed kindness by placing a small lid of water for them to drink. One exhausted mouse found a piece of food and slowly tempted the other mouse towards the water. Humans constructed a little ramp to help the mice escape. Animals understand empathy and perceive injustice.
The Science of Dogs Feeling Injustice
A professor of ecology and biology at the University of Colorado-Boulder, as mentioned by Peta, believes that dogs have their own rules of justice. The classic play-bow stance seen in the dog park has a dual meaning. It can indicate that a dog is bringing a ball or toy for a play session, but it can also mean, “Sorry, I was being too rough!”
This professor’s analysis sparks controversy, as he suggests that larger dogs often let smaller pups jump all over them, similar to a taller basketball player allowing a shorter player to win a few hoops.
Dogs also show sympathy when their humans are sad, resting their head or paw on their laps. Their bond with their human and other dogs they consider friends is evident.
A study at the University of Vienna found that dogs understand fair play. The dogs involved knew how to shake hands or raise their paw when prompted. Things got interesting when treat rewards were introduced to some dogs but not others. The dogs who didn’t receive treats lost interest in giving their paw. These dogs were outraged that humans were being unfair and unjust!
Helping Your Dog Feel Less Slighted
Just like humans who feel envy when someone else experiences good fortune, dogs can feel slighted when one pet or family member receives preferential treatment. Many family disputes among dogs arise because an owner cuddles one dog longer or appears to play with another dog more often. Dogs are keen observers, and like humans, some may be more prone to jealousy than others.
The green-eyed monster has caused marriages to dissolve and humans to act irrationally in the name of fairness and justice. Wolves, on the other hand, are fair-minded creatures that passed this quality onto their descendant dogs. Skeptics argue that we are trying to humanize dogs, but they fail to see that while Dobermans, Chows, and Corgis don’t resemble humans physically, they share similar emotional traits.
Free From Harm believes that humans evolved from apes but have created a gap between themselves and other animals. This sense of superiority allows our animal friends to suffer silently. To rectify this, we must accept that we are not so different from other earth inhabitants.
Various training methods teach dogs how to sit, stay, and come, often with a price to pay. As we learn more about dogs’ levels of awareness, the divide between punishment-based techniques and positive reinforcement is growing. Treating dogs like robots may lead to rebellion. Many dogs that have been treated unjustly or trained harshly have turned against their owners. While lawyers may argue that the dogs were defending themselves, our furry friends are not always regarded as equals deserving of human justice.
“Dogs understand justice and injustice, and they deserve to be treated with fairness and respect.”
Tips & Things to Know
1️⃣ Dogs have a sense of injustice: Dogs have the ability to recognize and feel injustice, just like humans. They may display signs such as whining, pacing, furrowed brow, twitching whiskers, whimpering, paw raising, and play bowing when they sense unfair treatment.
2️⃣ Dogs show empathy and sympathy: Dogs are capable of understanding and responding to human emotions. They may tilt their heads, whine, or whimper when they see their owners sad. They also show sympathy towards other dogs and may comfort them in distress.
3️⃣ Dogs need fair treatment and respect: Dogs should be treated with fairness and respect. Like wolves, their ancestors, dogs have a sense of justice and fairness. Unfair treatment or favoritism within a household can lead to jealousy and conflicts among dogs. Positive reinforcement and fair training methods are essential for building a strong bond with dogs and ensuring their well-being.
Frequently Asked Questions, Answered ✅
1. Do dogs have a sense of injustice?
– Yes, dogs can recognize and feel a sense of injustice.
2. How do dogs show that they sense injustice?
– Dogs may exhibit signs such as whining, pacing, furrowed brow, twitching whiskers, whimpering, paw raised, and play bowing.
3. Where did dogs inherit their sense of injustice from?
– Dogs inherited their sense of injustice from wolves, not humans.
4. Can dogs understand and exhibit fair play?
– Yes, dogs can understand and exhibit fair play, as shown in studies where dogs knew how to shake or raise their paw when requested and showed outrage when treat rewards were introduced unequally.
5. How can humans help their dogs feel less slighted?
– Humans can help their dogs feel less slighted by avoiding preferential treatment and ensuring equal attention and affection for all dogs in the household.
