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Do Animals Have Emotions?

Believe it or not, this topic can create a lot of controversy. Over many years, people and scientists have said that animals do not have emotions. How can we conclude this when there is so much about non-human animals that we don't know? The vast amount of what we don't know and assume makes us realize how much we think we know, but we don't. 


Quincy our Rottweiler touching noses with Levi our deaf bulldog when he was confined to crate rest after surgery.  Our dog training is located within our Level I Membership.

The study of the intelligence of animals is more popular now than ever. Take a look at the plethora of books and scientific studies on animal cognition and intelligence. One of my favorite studies is discovering the manipulation and outwitting experiments of the corvids (crows, ravens, jays) showing they're more manipulative than the primates. Not surprising to me with the amount of corvids I've trained.

With emotions, we can turn them on and turn them off. Neuroscientist, Jaak Panskepp states that animals can do the same thing and he knows this through his work and studies. Studies show that animals don't like certain feelings and can turn them off or chose other behaviors that will avoid the emotions.

Jaak is known for his studies on emotions in non-human animals. He did a study on discovering the sound of laughing in rats by being tickled. If you understand rat behavior, you can see them actively playing with each other. Jaak studies emotions and feelings in animals such as rage, fear, panic, and play. Why is this important? This is extremely important in my work of behavior modification, also known as behavior change. There are plenty of studies out there showing the ill mental and physical effects on the adolescent mind and lack of choices in the environment. Jaak's work on identifying emotions and feelings in animals puts even more emphasis on these studies and the similarities in the behaviors and feelings of the animals we are caring for, rehabilitating, and raising.

Koko, the umbrella cockatoo we recently took in from a zoo education program. We identified that touch is one of his highest valued positive reinforcers. Our training began off contact until that level of trust was built. It has since moved to  protective contact. You can see him leaning in for the touch. Learn more about parrot behavior, training and enrichment in  The Parrot Project.

Jaak talks about how the touch from the mother counteracts physiological pain in the infant. He show the similarities in a baby bird seeing its mother after separation. Brain opioids are stimulated in human and non-human animals with touch. These studies were done on guinea pigs, chickens, primates, and more. The effects were the same. 

Depression can be caused by many things including lack of choice within their environments. Lack of choice can lead to the animal learning that no matter how hard they try, they may not have control over consequences. Play, enrichment, and interaction via positive reinforcement training, teaches the animal that interactions bring positive consequences, meaning the animal does have control over its environment. This is important with social animals. What happens with that socialization when segregated from each other, or us? Jaak states that in his studies when the animals are asked if they want to play with us, it was clear their answers were 'Yes'. Play can lead lead to be anti-depressing to humans and non-humans alike.

Studies already show that if we are actually using positive reinforcement learning and teaching with our animals, it is their preferred form of enrichment and learning. Jaak states below:

"Taking the emotional feelings of animals seriously may yield more rapid understanding of human emotions and thereby promote progress in psychiatric medicinal development."


We can learn so much through our animals. We can care for them better when we know better. When we know better, we do better! Let's do better!

Here is a clip of a TED talk from the amazing Jaak Panskepp, whom has just recently passed, neuroscientist and psychobiologist. He was a scientist who’s work was dedicated to the well being of animals. He has done a lot of research on laughter in non-human animals. I recently made a post about this in our Level II Membership Program. His passing is a huge loss to the science and animal community.

Jaak Panskepp: The Science of Emotions

If you questions, please feel free to e-mail us.
 

Sincerely,
Lara Joseph & The Critters of The Animal Behavior Center

Join Patricia Sund the "Chop Queen" and Lara Joseph for a special online, livestream fundraiser for Nancy Forrester's Secret Garden

For a $25.00 donation you can join Patricia and Lara during this unique, educational, and fun live-stream. Join us in the closed Facebook group. Sit back, pour a glass or two of wine with Lara and Patricia, interact with others on the live-stream including Nancy Forrester herself. 
Teaching people to understand behavior through working with animals using Applied Behavior Analysis and positive reinforcement. 
 

Have a question? Ask me.
 
Both are annual, online, yearly subscriptions to Facebook live-streaming groups. Memberships and Projects go hand in hand with each other.
 
Our Membership Program focuses on understanding animal behavior, training and enrichment through positive reinforcement and putting Applied Behavior Analysis into everyday, understandable terms. The Projects are species specific.
Gift Vouchers Now Available!

Not sure what to get the animal lover in your life this holiday season? Look no further! 

New for this year, we are offering gift vouchers so you can gift membership and our unique projects to your favorite four or two legged friends and their people.
Get them here
Are you a shelter worker, volunteer, recently adopted an animal or referred by a veterinarian?

We are here to help provide the support you need! 

Contact us to be added to this private free resource via our Facebook Group
 
Join us on Facebook Live every Sunday @ 9AM EST 
Great holiday gifts and stocking stuffers!

Check out our exclusive products and merchandise for the animal lover in your life. Training supplies, mugs,
t-shirts, and more starting at $14.99.
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4917 Alexis Road - Sylvania, Ohio 43560

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