Dogs Reject People Who Are Unpleasant To Their Owners

Written and verified by the lawyer Francisco María García

Last update: 22 December, 2022

Dogs are well-known for being very intuitive. It’s been shown that they’re capable of recognizing the emotions of people around them. They’re grateful animals and don’t forget when someone treats them well.

There are also occasions when dogs lash out at people who are a threat to their owner. Therefore, it’s not so strange that dogs reject unpleasant people. So the question remains, how do they know that these people are bad?

Many people who have adopted a dog claim that dogs are capable of detecting bad vibrations from other people. They even claim that their dogs “try to warn them” about disloyal behavior. This is why dogs are shined in a good image in literature and even Hollywood.

Study on Dogs’ Reactions to Unpleasant People

The University of Kyoto began a study a few years ago on canine behavior. The aim of the research project was to determine the reactions of several canines when other people intact with their owners.

They took 54 dogs and divided them into three groups. The first group had the option of receiving food from the hands of people that denied helping their owners or from the hands of a stranger who had no interaction with their owner.

The second group had to choose between a feeder that was helping their owner or a feeder who was a neutral stranger.

The third group was attended by strangers without having any previous interaction with the dogs or their owners. Every dog carried out all three stages of the test.

The Results

One out of the 54 dogs tested, ate the food from someone who decided not to help their owner. At the same time, none of the test subjects showed a clear preference between neutral strangers or people who helped their owners.

According to the researchers, this was proof that dogs did not act by their own interests. They were able to identify and reject people who rejected the human members of their “packs”.

It’s Definitely True: Dogs Reject People Who Are Unpleasant

As you can see, it’s been proven that dogs reject people who are unpleasant to their owners. Stories of pets who never forget the people who cared for them are also common.

The most surprising stories are when, after a long time apart, the animal shows them the most beautiful displays of affection. And it doesn’t matter how much the person has changed either.

Good Vibrations

Experts assure that, far from just being an ability to pick up on bad intentions, dogs can read body language very well. They also suggest that dogs test and even “judge” people based on their overall conduct and attitudes.

The origin of this type of interaction can be found in the way that mammals relate to one another. Dogs have done nothing more than adapt their “social code” to living with humans.

This pattern can also be observed in the behavior of wild packs. Dogs reject dogs that don’t participate in their hunting strategies. The same thing applies to dogs who are constantly aggressive. In summary, dogs that are lazy or violent are socially excluded.

What Do Dogs Perceive More Than Humans?

After a close relationship which has lasted more than 15,000 years, dogs know everything about humans. Their analysis goes far beyond simply rejecting unpleasant people. It also goes beyond identifying sadness, joy, or loneliness.

Dogs can also clearly perceive stress and anxiety enough to be affected by it. That’s why they bark uncontrollably for no apparent reason.

Likewise, dogs are able to detect when people suffer from physical or emotional conditions. They can even detect clinical conditions, such as cancer and depression.