Dogs will ignore people who are mean to their owners

There really is no other animal as loyal as a dog.

I happily count Rufus as my “best friend” and dog’s loyalty to their owners is one of the most wonderful traits in the animal kingdom. But did you know that dogs will actually snub people who are mean to their owners? Recent research shows that dogs are not only highly perceptive of how others treat their owners, but they’re also willing to act on it by ignoring those who don’t treat you well.

The science behind a dog's loyalty

A fascinating study conducted in Japan explored how dogs react to people who treat their owners poorly. The researchers set up an experiment in which dogs watched their owners interact with different people. Some of these people were helpful to the owner, while others refused to help. The dogs’ reactions were clear: when given the chance to accept treats from the people who had been unkind to their owners, the dogs snubbed them and instead favoured those who had been helpful.

This behaviour suggests that dogs are incredibly tuned in to how their owners are treated by others, and they use this information to make decisions about who they trust. It’s an amazing display of loyalty and emotional intelligence that reinforces the bond between dogs and their humans.

How do dogs judge behaviour?

Because dogs have evolved alongside humans for thousands of years, it’s given them a unique ability to read and respond to our emotions and interactions. In this study, dogs weren’t just responding to the tone of voice or body language used in the moment, they were observing how other people treated their owners and using that information to form judgments about them

This kind of behaviour shows that dogs don’t simply follow commands or rely on instinct alone. Instead, they are capable of assessing social situations and responding in ways that demonstrate loyalty and protection towards their owners.

The depth of canine loyalty

This study is just one example of how deep the loyalty between dogs and their owners can go. Dogs are known for their incredible ability to form emotional bonds and their willingness to “stand up” for their owners, even in subtle ways like ignoring someone who has been unkind, is further proof of that bond.

While humans may rely on social cues, trust, and reputation when navigating relationships, dogs seem to have developed their own ways of understanding social dynamics. And unlike humans, who might give someone the benefit of the doubt, dogs don’t forget when someone has treated their favourite human poorly.

As a dog owner, knowing that your pet has your back can be a comforting thought. Whether your dog is snubbing someone who hasn’t been nice to you or offering comfort when you’re feeling down, their loyalty knows no bounds. It also speaks to the importance of maintaining a strong, trusting relationship with your dog as they are always watching, learning, and responding to the world around them, often in ways we don’t even notice.

This level of emotional intelligence in dogs underscores the unique relationship between us and them, one built on mutual trust, loyalty, and protection. It’s a relationship unlike any other in the animal world.

There really is no other animal as loyal as a dog. Their ability to assess how others treat their owners and act accordingly is a testament to the deep bond we share with them. The next time you notice your dog avoiding someone who wasn’t particularly kind to you, know that they’re just doing what comes naturally, being the loyal companion we’ve always known them to be.