Can dogs be jealous?

Dogs – are complex social animals. But they don't possess human ethics, whether we like it or not, and cannot be jealous in the human sense. Most likely, dog's jealousy is a kind of hierarchical aggression.

From the viewpoint of dogs, the happiest creature in the world is the leader of the pack. It has exclusive rights: to eat first, to take a comfortable place, and manage the other members' behaviour. Every human family has a leader too. And a dog tries to be as close to the leader of the family as possible, to be able to enjoy his/her rights and benefits. And after taking this place, it will hinder all attempts to deprive it of this place. Any type of contact, tender treatment, games and communication with other family members are regarded as these very attempts by the dog.

Dogs, bred by women, get used to the female voice and smells. They feel uncomfortable in the presence of men. This may cause "jealousy" (aggression) against them. Especially if a man tries to become a member of the "pack". Another example: a man (husband, father), as a rule, returns from work late and doesn't have enough time to communicate with the dog, doesn't participate in family life and is treated by the dog as a stranger. Being a small puppy, it has to tolerate this situation. But when it grows up, it gradually begins to actively resist incursion of the alien into the current hierarchical structure.