Animal Emotions

Do animals think and feel?

Marc Bekoff Ph.D.

A Deeper Sympathy for the Plight of Captive Animals

An interview with the writer of the riveting essay, "I Was a Journalist Who Reported on Captive Animals — Then I Became One."

"Are Dogs Really Hard-Wired to Manipulate Us?"

Research and citizen science clearly show dogs don't routinely try to take advantage of us—it's not an innate predisposition. This and other myths must be put to rest forever.

'Animaladies: Gender, Animals, and Madness'

An interview with Lori Gruen and Fiona Probyn-Rapsey about a new book linking ways in which "gender and animal rights activism are associated with sentiment and, often, insanity."

Neighborly Animals Offer Valuable Lessons About Coexistence

As animals come to town in the Anthropause, compassionate conservation, conservation psychology, and personal rewilding offer positive leads for friendly future encounters. 

The Emotional Toll of the Climate Emergency

An interview with psychologist and climate warrior Margaret Klein Salamon, who helps us face the painful truths of the climate emergency and turn despair into effective action.

'Baby Hers': All Babies Belong With Their Mothers

A new short film reveals the mistreatment and inhumane separation of dairy cows and their children.

Dogs, Dying, and Death—and How to Help Them Cope

Deep thinking has yielded fruitful discussions about what we know, don't know, or can't ever truly know, and how to comfort dogs when they need us.

Pandemic Puppy Pandemonium Requires Lots of Time and Love

Pandemic puppies are all the rage, and ample science clearly shows they need a lot of positive socialization and understanding to become resilient, well-adjusted adult dogs.

Why Geese Matter

Geese should be respected because they are alive, sentient, and emotional beings, rather than so-called pests, who also help numerous people find peace in simply being outdoors.

'Are Wild Animals Always Happier Than Captive Animals?'

This question provides opportunities to ponder various aspects of human-nonhuman animal relationships. Individual's freedoms are key and honoring who they are comes first.

Trophy Hunters Exposed: Inside the Big Game Industry

An interview with journalist Eduardo Gonçalves about his explosive book on trophy hunting, its donors, how it seeks to influence elections, and supportive "conservation" groups.

Why Do Some Dogs Fear Strange Dogs and Unfamiliar Humans?

A new Finnish study of almost 6,000 companion dogs "highlights the role of inadequate socialisation, inactivity, and urban living" in producing fear-related behavior problems.

Wise Advice for Overcoming Biases in Comparative Psychology

An interview with Kristin Andrews where she argues psychologists should reject mechanistic views of animals and see them as conscious beings, and acknowledge the ethical implications.

Friendliness and Cooperation Are Secrets of Humans' Success

An interview with Brian Hare and Vanessa Woods about their riveting new book, "Survival of the Friendliest," a fascinating read about self-domestication and how we became who we are.

Kids and Dogs: Playing, Walking, and Emotional Development

A new study shows some pre-schoolers benefit from playing with and walking their companion dogs, displaying fewer problems and more prosocial behavior than dogless kids.

Chimps Use Tools for Termite Fishing in 38 Different Ways

A study of different populations of wild chimpanzees shows that culture, rather than function, underlies variations in tool use, and individuals conform to local customs when they move.

Why Are Cows Meat, Pigs Pork, Turkeys Turkey, and Tunas Tuna?

Labels used for "food animals" are effective psychological ploys for disguising who people are really eating and reducing dissonance.

Words of Wisdom on Raising and Training a Happy Puppy

An interview with Steve Mann, founder of the Institute of Modern Dog Trainers, about "Easy Peasy Puppy Squeezy," which emphasizes using proven science-based and positive methods.

Do Animals Think or Feel?

The Ontario (Canada) Federation of Agriculture falsely claims, "We simply do not know if animals are capable of reasoning and cognitive thought," defying science and reality.

Do Pets Really Unconditionally Love and Unwind Us?

Companion animals can be choosy about who they love, yet claims they offer unconditional love persist despite a lack of supporting data.

A Tribute to the Deep Emotional Lives of Chimpanzees

Stories about the resilience of spirit in the face of suffering and how grief, forgiveness, kindness, and compassion transcend all boundaries.

Rethinking Our Love of Pets in an Age of Wildlife Extinction

An interview with Peter Christie about his timely new book "Unnatural Companions," a cautionary tale in which he "issues a call to action" for responsible pet ownership.

Are Humans Driving Wily Urban Red Foxes to Self-Domesticate?

Street smart vulpines show fascinating adaptions—including changes in muzzles, biting, and braincases—for living in human environs, but they're not domesticated animals like dogs.

"In These Horrific Times, Why Do You Work for Animals?"

I'm often asked questions like this and these sorts of queries have recently increased. My answer is simple: Working for nonhumans helps humans, and compassion begets compassion.

Dominant Alpha Humans Don't Garner Dogs' Respect and Trust

Free-ranging dogs form packs resembling wolf packs, but homed dogs and their humans don't establish these sorts of groups.

Compassionate Conservation, Sentience, and Personhood

Compassionate conservation is based on the ethical position that actions to protect biodiversity should be guided by compassion rather than by killing.

Does the Presence of a Companion Animal Help Young Mothers?

A new and unique study shows, among other things, that first-time mothers who live with a companion animal perceive motherhood as less difficult than first-time mothers who don't. 

Animal Emotions, Animal Sentience, and Why They Matter

Revisiting different aspects of animal emotions and animal sentience shows we know a lot, yet we still don't use much of this knowledge to protect them from intentional harms.

"Don't Let Your Dog Put His Nose There, You Can't Trace It"

I heard this about a butt-sniffing dog along with, "You don't know if he's got COVID and you can't trace where he's been." Here are some updated community-focused rules of thumb.

Dogs' "Teenage Brains" Evolved for Good Reasons

Dogs, like many other animals, go through a tumultuous period called "wildhood," which has survived domestication, on the way to adolescence.

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