Do Dogs Feel Love?

[jcanavera]

I picked this up from a Purina email that I received. For those of you who are not pet owners, you might find this insightful as to how we are so attached to our furry buddies.

Jack
Do Dogs Feel Love?


We feel tremendous love for our dogs, and our dogs sure seem to love us. But is a dog really capable of emotions? Or are we just projecting our feelings onto our dogs?

Scientists avoid the subject because part of what sets humans apart from the animals is our ability to experience feelings. To say that animals actually have feelings, in the same way we do, would change everything – perhaps disrupt our entire position and standing in the animal kingdom.

However, any dog owner knows that dogs love completely and have a greater capacity for love than most people. If one were to describe the main characteristics of a dog, they would have to be:
1. strong affection
2. warm attachment
3. unselfish loyalty and benevolent concern for others

Wait a minute – those are the Merriam-Webster Dictionary definitions of love. Probably why the author of Dogs Never Lie About Love, Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson writes, “dogs are love.” So there isn’t a question of whether dogs love, the mystery is how they have such an enormous capacity for it. Dogs who are neglected or abused still show love for their human and wag their tails in hope of a little affection.

Dogs taken from abusive situations hold no grudges toward the human race. A half an ounce of kindness from a new person results in an abundance of affection from the formerly mistreated dog. Humans rarely have the capacity to so completely forgive and love under those circumstances.

Probably the biggest reason the dog has become man’s best friend is because we know that when it comes to love, a dog can always outdo us. The highest form of love, agape love, which is completely unconditional, is something that people often have to work at or grow into. Agape love seems to come naturally between parent and child, but it’s more difficult between husband and wife, and harder still between friends. To love someone regardless of what wrongs they have done you is very difficult for humans.

A dog, however, is born with an endless capacity for agape love, and doesn’t even have to work at it. You can be a complete grouch, ignore your dog, and refuse him your love. When you decide you’re ready to be sociable again, your dog doesn’t pay you back by ignoring you too. He’s just happy you’re there. More amazing still, is that the love that dogs and owners feel for each other lasts a lifetime. This is the ideal love humans strive for, but often fail at.

As Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson so beautifully writes in Dogs Never Lie About Love, “Learning to know somebody intimately is often the beginnings of dislike, sometimes even of contempt. Among humans, love often does not survive a growing acquaintance, but in a dog, love seems to grow with acquaintance, to get stronger, deeper. Even when fully acquainted with all our weaknesses, our treachery, our unkindness, the dog seems to love strongly – and this love is returned by most dog-loving humans. We, too, seem to love our dogs the more we get to know them. The bond grows between us and our dogs.”

This is why we need dogs. They do something for us that rarely a human companion can do. No matter how much you mess up your life, or how much wrong you do, no matter how many mistakes you make or how often you make them, regardless of your looks, income or social standing, your dog never judges you. He always thinks you are wonderful and loves you with all his heart.

[cameront120]

When I read something like that, it makes me wonder if I'm good enough for my dogs.

[mandolindave]

Do dogs smile? ( perhaps laugh ) I think so.

[maxandgeorgia]

Jack, what a good read this hot summer day. Thanks for sending it along to all of us on the Forum. Our two dogs were so happy to greet us when we pulled in the drive yesterday after our week's vacation. What a heartwarmer it is when they wiggle and woof and give love nibbles and their tails are wagging too fast for the eye to keep up with! ~G

[Lumatic]

Someone more famous than me I can't remeber said our society can be measured by how we treat our animals. I think it may have been that bald guy in a diaper, Gumby.

[guy99]

Originally Posted by cameront120

When I read something like that, it makes me wonder if I'm good enough for my dogs.

Yes, but, the point is you don't have to be.

But it is worth it to try.

[Pick]

Another animal that is close to humans, like dogs, are donkeys. Yep, you heard me right, donkeys. They are very similar to dogs in they way they like social contact with humans.

Yes, I have one, so I know this first hand. They quite the pets.

[Stefrobrts]

Pick, I know people who have donkeys, and they've said the same thing!

One thing I love about our eskimos is that they give spontaneous displays of affection. Alki will be just hanging out, when she suddenly decides to jump up on my chest, plant a paw on each shoulder, and try to lick me to death, smiling and wagging like mad the whole time! She does it to Dave too, in fact she loves it if I suggest she go give 'Daddy a kiss'. I've never had a dog act like that before, but eskimos are known for it, in fact they call it 'the eskimo hug'. Now I can rationalize away a happy greeting when you've been away, or wagging tails for food or treats, but I don't know what to say about 'eskimo hugs', except that must be love!

[cameront120]

Stef, my Chocolate Labrador Kai does something to let me know that there is love. While I'm walking my two, he will look up at me and walk in tight right beside my leg. He keeps looking at me, as if to say "pet me!". Of course I pet him and he cuddles in tighter. That's love! That or I'm a sucker and he has me well trained.

[2airishuman]

cute piece jack and heartwarming....

but the basic premise is flawed...

Originally Posted by purinaquote

...Scientists avoid the subject because... perhaps disrupt our entire position and standing in the animal kingdom...

there is a PILE of science AND research on this issue and the pile is growing every day!

in fact, there is so much it is overwhelming the scooper.

including the newer genetic study of how/why the domestic pooch is different than its ancestor/siblings the wolf and dingo...

"the dingo took your baaaaaby"

it might be more correct to suggest it is the god squad (the nofunfaction only) that is reluctant...

about researching love, feelings and a SOUL outside of mankind....

i don't wanna start a new scopes monkey trial...

really good scopes trial history...

or the wiki...

but, c the pic below...

and as a famous marx said...

"outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. inside of a dog it's too dark to read."

2air'

[Pschoerrn]

Dog for sure love!!! I am going thru a hard time at the moment and our/my yellow lab Chiara feels when it is getting too much for me and then always comes to me to show how much she cares... Can't see people cry, it is really cute, because she tries get on your arm to give you a big wet kiss... If that ain't love I am not sure what a dogs love is...

BJoern

[Crusty]

I'm sure that dogs do and also lions too.

Christian the Lion

[Pick]

Here is a picture of my donkey, named Simon.

[Alumatube]

Awww, Pick, Simon is a cutie! And bonus points for the AS in the background!

You guys are right about donkeys, although I am really glad that their affection towards humans doesn't involve leaping into laps and licking faces! Our donk, Tom Terrific, is VERY social and loves being around people. He is a great watchdonk and lets us know when someone comes on the property. And the first thing he will do is run past you and stop abruptly so you can scratch his rump.

Here are some pics of him:





We have been very lucky with loving dogs as well. Nilla really likes her humans!



Great topic, Jack!

Susan

[azflycaster]

Someone sent this to me today. I think you will enjoy it...
http://www.pmblog.co.uk/ABOUTDOGS.PPS
It is a Microsoft Power Point Presentation.
Click on the picture to go to the next slide.

[DEITZ645]

I have always had German Shepherd and Beagles growing up and I know they loved us and did everything in their power to protect us. The first dog I had after leaving mom and dad's nest was a beagle and he really helped me through a divorce. Bomber was the best listener I ever knew.

Now we have Bailey (the hound in my avitar) and he is quite a character. It is always funny to come home after a vacation where he did not accompany us. He is so excited to see us and is all hugs and kisses for about the first hour and then we get an equal amount of the beagle "cold shoulder" as if he was saying "how dare you go away and don't take me." After he gets that out of his system he is all hugs and kisses again. And it's not like he goes to a kennel. He goes to "puppy camp" at my moms where he is spoiled even more that if he were to be with us. He also loves camping. All we have to do is ask him if he wants to go camping and he runs and stand at the steps of our Airstream.

I can't imagine life without a dog

[shovelbum]

I hope to be as good a person as my dog thinks I am.

[mandolindave]

I have told this cute Airstream story before but this is a great spot for it.
I was camping overnight at the restoration shop. The owner had a field
full of Airtreams being stored, repaired or being parted out. My dog, Layla
would not settle down for the evening. I tried feeding her, water, letting her out, petting her, singing to her.....nothing worked. She spun around
a few times and did her very best Lassie moves, to get me to follow her.
She took me to where the Airstreams were parked. Don't ya know, She
went to every last camper door and sniffed for people she knew. I
quickly figured out that she thought that she was at a festival, where
treats and hugs were abundant.( those are my words, Layla can't pronounce abundant ) The long, slow walk back to the camper was miserable. I hate to see her like that. Holding her head down low. Sad
puppy dog eyes. Oh darn....I think Layla and I have turned into a bad country song.

[mandolindave]

She recovered after some beef stew

[Mackhopp]

Poor little Layla -

She looks better now! (cutie)