Do animals get embarrassed?

Asked by: Jenny Harris, Sutton

It’s hard to imagine that a pug dressed up as a hot dog doesn’t feel embarrassed, especially if it’s displaying expressions that we normally associate with that emotion, such as looking away. But perhaps the dog is just uncomfortable in the costume, or even scared.

Likewise, an animal which has done something we deem to be naughty or silly might appear to be embarrassed, when it’s actually just responding to our body language and anticipating a reaction from us. While scientists agree that some animals are capable of experiencing basic emotions, a lack of research means that the jury is still out on these more complex ones.

Read more:

• Are humans the only animals that get drunk?
• Are we the only animals that cry?

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