Dog’s can really feel your bad day

You’ve probably seen this in person, when you’ve had a shitty day and your dog reacts in the most comforting way. It’s almost as if he feels empathy with you. I hate to burst your bubble, but dog’s don’t feel that complex human emotion. Instead, what dogs are feeling is an “emotional contagion”- a response to your feelings, that make the dog feel the same way.

So what this response is, is essentially the dog feeling just as sad as you and seeking your comfort. You, in turn, are comforted. So, while they don’t understand what you’re going through, they sympathize with you, and you guys can feel better together.