When it comes to reading a dogs’ emotions, many folks interpret what they expect to see — instead of what’s right in front of them.

Researchers in a newly published study showed people videos of a dog reacting to positive and negative stimuli, including a treat, a leash, a vacuum cleaner and a scolding. Folks tended to assume what the dog was feeling by relying on the situational context rather than focusing on the dog’s behavior. In some cases, videos contained footage of a negative situation, such as a person showing a vacuum to a dog, spliced with a dog’s positive reaction to seeing his leash. Participants often assumed the dog was feeling bad, visual evidence to the contrary.

Bottom line? Pooch parents could benefit from taking a beat to really focus on their dog’s body language.