ARE THEY "LITTLE PEOPLE" IN FUR COATS?

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I read something yesterday that had me a little intrigued.  We all have heard about the problems with anthromorphising our dogs.  I agree that if you take this too far, you can really lose sight of the wonder of their "dogness" (I'm sure that's not a word), and it would be unfair to expect them to act in ways that they are incapable of.  But, I also have been thinking that it's also a mistake to underestimate the degree to which they "feel things".  Here's the actual question that got me thinking..."How am I made any less human or my dog less canine if I am willing to grant that animals feel pain, joy, grief, love, anger, loyalty and more?"  It seems like society is very willing to attribute feelings such as anger and rage to dogs, but much more reluctant to believe that they are also capable of joy, love, and even grief.  I think most of us here on DK have seen our dogs display a wide range of "emotions".  What are your thoughts?

[Anna and Achilles]

I think that they are capable of all of those emotions. I have seen it myself with both of my dogs.

[Deanna & Desi & Cori]

Dogs absolutely have a wide range of emotions.  All one has to do is cruise through DoodleKisses to see clear "evidence" of doggie joy, love, compassion, grief, etc.

[Linda and Murphy]

I have been told by more people than I can count that "Murphy is not a dog, He is a little boy in a dog suit." Well, maybe big boy... hahahah

 

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

They are capable of all. I have seen Peri be in pain, depressed, elated/joyful, loving, loyal, excited, curious, etc...  I am very much in tune to her feelings (wow did I say that?).  She is really much more expressive than my chihuahua.  I do think all dogs have these qualities; however, I  think doodles just have extra extra personality.

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

My DH and I used to think that a four year-old little boy lived inside Tahoe, out first Doodle.  He has mannerisms that reminded us so much of when our son was that age! Crazy, right??

[Adina P]

No, not little people in fur coats---not by any stretch. 

 

But I do agree that dogs do experience a wide range of emotions.  I think the trouble with anthropomorphizing is when assume we know what a dog is thinking or feeling based on what we would be thinking/feeling in the same situation.  They may or may not be experiencing the same thing.  For example I don't think Rosco's relationship with Boca is at all like my relationship with my siblings. I don't think they consider each other 'brother and sister" even though I talk about it that way at times for fun.  I don't think they think of me as 'mom' or expect the kinds of relationship/behavior I expected from my mom.  I'm not sure 'cuddling' to them is experienced the same way--even though closeness and touch and massage, I'm fairly certain, is very pleasurable for dogs too. 

 

I could go on and on but suffice to say that regardless of what our differences are...people and dogs go very well together =)

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I agree Adina!

[Linda and Murphy]

I don't think Murphy is a person in a dog suit. He is a very special dog, and I am so very grateful for that.

 

 

[BG and Gavin]

I don't find Gavin to be very complex at all.  He is either content, excited or asleep.  He dosen't seem to have good days/bad days except he is more distracted in training on some days.  I have never seen sad, anxious, angry...no he is pretty simple.

[Camilla and Darwin]

I think for anyone who has owned a dog, the fact that they have a wide variety of emotions is obvious. People who say dogs can't be happy or sad clearly haven't been around many.

I do feel however, that many owners endow their dogs with human emotions and preferences that they just don't have. I agree with you that it takes nothing away from us to admit our pet's emotional capabilities.  But assuming your dogs preferences based on yours... is not the best for your dog. Example, "I love looking cute in daily outfits so my dog will too" Dogs obviously have no fashion sensibilities, and would rather not be wearing clothes. It may be attractive to believe that your dog has the same hobbies, likes and dislikes as you... but it just isn't so. 

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I agree with this too....I know my guys do NOT have the same interests as me (well most of the time).  Actually my DH and DS don't have the same interests as me.  We do have a few in common though, like snuggling up in bed and going on "road trips".

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I have seen my dogs display fear, depression, anxiety, excitement, joy, contentment...but I'm not sure a dog experiences these as "emotions" in the same way humans do. What I mean is that when I am nervous or sad, I am conscious of that. My mind knows that I am feeling nervous, and it usually knows why. I don't think that's true of dogs. I think a dog feels anxious or happy as a reaction to something (a trip to the vet, a trip to the dog park) but isn't consciously aware of being nervous or excited and why. So I'm not sure I would say that JD experiences emotions as I understand emotions in myself and other humans.

I think pain is not an emotion, and we know that anything with nerve endings can feel pain. Love, well, love is a tough one, lol. I'm not sure we can even define love among humans, lol. I would have thrown myself in front of a bus for one of my children, (or for one of my dogs, actually), but a police K9 will take a bullet for his human partner, and that isn't because he "loves" him. Loyalty, definitely. Protectiveness and/or instinct, for sure. But maybe those are the same things that would drive me to thrown myself in front of that bus. Maybe a dog "loves" his owners the way a young child loves his mother...it may be based more on need than deep emotional attachment. I know that the way I loved my mother when I was a child was very different from the way I loved my child as her mother, lol. I would like to believe that JD loves me, but in all honesty, I'm not sure. I do know he feels a lot more secure when I'm around.

And I've seen dogs who've lost their homes and their "person" display what clearly looks like grief to me. I know some of you who've had one dog pass away have seen that in the remaining dog, too. That one seems the most similar to a human emotion to me.

The one thing I'm sure about is that dogs get over all of these emotions, or whatever they are,  a lot faster than people do. Those lucky creatures!