A question for dog lovers (and cat lovers too I guess)

Contributor: K101 K101
Absolutely! Dogs really do fall in love with the owner who loves them. Have you ever heard of dog's and cats dying shortly after their owners due to grief? It's true! I think the return the love. We got a weiner dog dumped at our house about 7 years ago and he was very... scared. So much that he would bark at us and was so timid he would come off as a bit agressive until we finally caught him and took him in. It took years to calm him completely, but he did fall in love with me. He was originally my mom's dog and I didn't love him at first, but as soon as I started to love him, he never left my side! He's laying right beside me now. If I leave to go to the bathroom he waits on me outside the door. Cats can love their owners, but I think it happens for dogs more. My cats love me and will only have something to do with me, but they don't show love as strongly as dogs which is fine. Also, pookie our weiner will freak if someone leans over me, even for a kiss or hug. He's always thought it to be a threat and will growl! He does it if someone leans over any of the babies we've had and still does with the 1 year old. There are so many ways to tell they love you. Despite what most people think, cats and dogs and even hamsters are VERY intelligent. OK not all hamsters are totally genuis, but they are smart. It amazes me how smart pets are. They know your emotions, they sense them and they have them as well. They're almost just like us.
09/01/2011
Contributor: SiNn SiNn
Quote:
Originally posted by LaLaLouise
So a debate I often have with people is whether or not dogs have the mental capacity to experience most of the emotions that humans do. Obviously they do on some level: anger, fear, jealousy, etc. But those are instinctive. Do you think dogs can ... more
love is love be it with a animal or a person everyone feels it
09/01/2011
Contributor: XzombehxbearzX XzombehxbearzX
Quote:
Originally posted by LaLaLouise
So a debate I often have with people is whether or not dogs have the mental capacity to experience most of the emotions that humans do. Obviously they do on some level: anger, fear, jealousy, etc. But those are instinctive. Do you think dogs can ... more
I believe dogs can. We have a dog that appears to have depression it leaves us with what are we supposed to do about it? And our other dog appears to be slightly schizophrenic. Its kind of a bummer.
09/14/2011
Contributor: Illumin8 Illumin8
I completely believe that animals are capable of emotions, including love. I think that it is slightly different than what humans experience, but it's still an emotion.
09/14/2011
Contributor: wetone123 wetone123
Quote:
Originally posted by sexyintexas
Lol at your cats beck...too funny. We have to run my boxer out of the room because he thinks that my husband is hurting me and starts growling at him. My dog is awesome, he gets sad, excited, happy, sometimes just wants to be loved and cuddle. I ... more
AWW! I want a boxer so bad! They are so smart and protective. Waiting to see if my aunts boxers will have puppies. So far after 3 years...nothing
09/14/2011
Contributor: Ash1141 Ash1141
I believe they do.
09/14/2011
Contributor: wetone123 wetone123
Quote:
Originally posted by XzombehxbearzX
I believe dogs can. We have a dog that appears to have depression it leaves us with what are we supposed to do about it? And our other dog appears to be slightly schizophrenic. Its kind of a bummer.
I rescued a dog that seemed to be schizophrenic, psychotic...you name it. Turned out that he had been abused so badly it messed him up. Same thing happens with humans if we are abused and you know these dogs can't get away from the abuse. Maybe that your dog was treated badly before you got him. It took me a long time to get through to this dog, but now he is sane again and knows he belongs in the family and will not be abused or starved etc. He was a mess! A little love goes a long way with these type of animals, it just takes time, love and understanding.
09/14/2011
Contributor: Sex'и'Violence Sex'и'Violence
I'm nearly certain they can. An animal has the full range of emotions that a human has, minus some of the capacity to rationalize which almost makes the emotions more intense.
09/14/2011
Contributor: wetone123 wetone123
I know they do. I have had some very close relationships with both dogs and cats. One thing tho'-once a cat has been abused, it will never be the same. Dogs come out of it after a while.

Animals have great emotion and know when something is wrong. They are so in tuned with their owners that they know what you are going to do before you do it! At least mine do after I've had them awhile.

I had a dog who you could ask questions to and he would nod yes or no. He regularly tried to speak. He was almost human. In his old age he was going blind. I asked him Are you ok? He nodded yes, then he sighed, shrugged and nodded no. That dog was priceless and I miss him dearly. He always licked my tears away. He always told me to stop smoking and hid my smokes from me regularly which was a bother to me, but he was right. I have insomnia and he always tried his best to get me to go to sleep even kind of rocking me like a baby with his paw on my back and shoulder.

The dog I have now is not as smart as the other dog, but he loves me. He is so grateful to me for taking him away from what his life used to be. I hope one day he will forget about what happened to him entirely.

My cats are more independant, but they show me love and affection in their spare time.
09/14/2011
Contributor: wetone123 wetone123
Animals are just like humans in their emotions except that they do not have the cruelty, or scheming minds that humans have. They do unto others as they would like done unto them.

They are innocent in their thoughts and minds. Dependant upon whether or not their masters will be good to them or not. They are just like babies. Children. Just the same.
09/14/2011
Contributor: Love Perpetua Love Perpetua
What is love? I believe my dog loves me and the rest of our family. She likes to be near me, and looks around for me when I'm not around. She misses us a lot when we go on vacation.
12/07/2011