Doodle emotions

[Rebecca bratter]

I've mentioned in previous posts how emotional my little aussiedoodle madiba is. I'm posting more out of genuine fascination with how dogs minds work and I know many of you are extremely knowledgable about it. Madiba really is sad when I leave for work or leave her alone with my husband when I travel. Is she really sad or is that me humanizing what I interpret to,be her state of mind. My husband says that when she's in the house when I'm away she lies around a lot and looks for me. When she is out playing with her friends she's perfectly fine. Now our son is visiting and he doesn't see her that much because he's at school,but he picked her up at the airport and was the first person to,spend time with her as a baby. When he comes and stays with us, I've never seen her light up like she does for him for anyone else. She's all over him, jumping on him, trying to,get him to,play, and shaking her little butt with happiness. She loves me and my husband but is gaga for our son. She just goes in his room and wait for him to wake up.

Is,she bonded strongly to,him as he was alone with her her first day with us as my husband had to also pick me up at the airport? Does she really get sad and depressed? I feel so,guilty when I leave her I'm becoming a slave to,her I just want her to be happy and loved.

What's your take on her emotions, is it more me projecting what I think,she is feeling on her?

Lastly she has crazy dreams, involving heavy breathing, kicking feet, and sometimes howling. What the heck does she dream of? I'm really fascinated by how my little girls mind works.

[Sally S Miles]

I do think they have emotions, strong especially as pups who have not learned 'management' and  we are still learning them.  They cannot speak, so we have to learn to read them. 

The bond with your son is precious, my late Yorkie bonded incredibly with our oldest grandson - it was astounding. 

Now that I have an Aussie the readings  are interesting - my Doodle is pretty much an open book that can turn a page instantly, but little guy is focus and highly tender.  Oh the joys! This herding breed does read differently,  each one has their own expression.   The intensity of a herding breed can be off putting to some, endearing to others - it does not waver. Sad? Maybe, but maybe only somewhat.  Frustrated - yes.  Happy - oh my.   

I am finding my own heart strings tugged by their emotions, displays, and yes explorations.  I experienced some green envy when my dog loved grandson, but she was still my dog - always, just shared at times.     She moped at every separation - - our last GSD was untrainable in leaving me - now my little Aussie is strongly attached to me - our Doodle is a flibbertigibet - is it the female or the breed?  This one behaves other than another - such individuals.    Ah the rub....

Dreams - lip twitches, running, barking, whining, and it makes me wonder - oh it beats cable!! 

[Rebecca bratter]

My girl is super intuitive and emotional. She's never happier than in a room full of people or running with,the dogs at the dog park. Im still trying to learn her signs and emotions,,she's the first dog I've raised since puppyhood. She's so complex and I do read and understand a lot of what she is trying to communicate and she knows i get her. I'm just pained when I think she feels sad or down because im not there or we have to leave her alone for a few hours. It helps me to,think she lives in the moment and is therefore not scarred by anything In the past, like coming on a plane so we could receive her, or by the future like mom is gone today what will I do tomorrow if she's not here.

[Suzanne & Jack]

I do think they have emotions.  I know my Moose (herding breed Catalan Sheepdog) sits on the stairs waiting for me to come home.  Just remember animals live "in the moment"  they have no sense of time.

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

I do think our dogs experience some "emotion" but not in the same way that humans do.  I think they feel "happy and loved" when you provide them with a balanced life....good food, exercise, appropriate affection, training/consistent expectations for their mind, and time for play. 

[Sally S Miles]

Have you read any of Temple Grandin's work? Excellent - but anybody who digs into such gets my attention - (since way back in Jane Goodall's early days) .

Read "The Other End of the Leash" and another collective that goes into this.

[Rebecca bratter]

I'm going to read this book. I know the basic temple grandin story and am assuming it's the reason why thunder shirts are hot ticket items for dogs.

[Sally S Miles]

Patricia McConnell wrote the title listed above, but do check out others in her work - it's great for many aspects of canine comprehension.  Great stories and methodology.

Turid Rugas has small books that are packed with insight and wisdom.

Add Temple Grandin and you have much reading to do!! 

We are a long way from our first pup, but life changes us daily and I am always open to learning - - as my life has changed, they have changed it.  I study my dogs - behavior and reactions, interests - but then I lead a very compartmentalized life.   

YES - I do believe they feel love, sadness, confusion, fear, pride, excitement, joy, expectation - although they do live in the moment, imagine how full those moments are!  

Yes, routine sets a pace and thus sets expectations, but if those expectations are not met - they also feel disappointment.

[Leslie, Yogi & Maci Bear]

I think dogs experiences happiness, and fear. Also some form of contentment.
You guys think love maybe too?

[Julie and Max]

I do think they feel love, maybe not in the same way we do but in their own little doggy ways.

[Alex/Mindy/Georgia/Coral]

In my opinion, the biggest reason why your dog has such sadness when you leave is possibly because of your emotions. Dogs are very good at reading our energy, and if you feel bad when leaving her then she will feel sad. The other reason may be because you don't leave her that often, so it's not a normal thing that happens. Here is a link to Cesar's Way, referencing separation anxiety in dogs and what you can do to ensure they don't have it when you leave. Even if your dog doesn't have full blown separation anxiety the articles will still be helpful.

http://www.cesarsway.com/search/apachesolr_search/separation%20anxiety

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

I definitely agree dogs have emotions.  My husband tells me that whenever I leave the house, Bexter appears miserable.  He looks out the window and cries and paces and then lies down only to get back up in a little bit to look out more and cry more.  He obviously never does that when I am home.  It doesn't matter who else in the family leaves.  He is always ok until I leave.  So, we have a very special bond.  My other doodle, Maggie, doesn't care at all when I leave.  She is equally bonded with everyone in the family.