Does Your Dog Love You?

燬ome scientists believe that dogs are not capable of human emotions, but dog lovers know their dogs love them. Can dogs really experience love?

The other night on the news, I saw a story about 2 dogs on a busy New York City highway that stopped traffic during rush hour. One dog had been hit by a car. Police officers stopped traffic and were trying to get to the injured dog to get it off the street and to a vet. The uninjured dog was guarding and protecting the injured dog. The dog, it looked like a German Shepherd mix ,was barking and chasing the officers away, but it never attempted to attack or hurt the police. Eventually, the injured dog was picked up and driven to a vet clinic and the dog protecting her ran home. It turns out the two dogs lived right by the highway and爐he injured dog is the mother of the other dog. This made me wonder about dogs and their capacity for love, loyalty, caring and other human emotions.

When you have been away from home for any length of time, and your dog is crazy happy to see you upon your return, is it because he missed you or because he knows there is someone to feed him? Some experts believe the dogs instinct for survival is what motivates him because he see you as his provider. I can tell you from experience this is not the case. We occasionally go away for 3 day weekends. We have a neighbor who loves our 3 Dobermans. She will come over periodically while we are gone to feed the dogs and let them out and play with them. All their needs are being provided but, the 3 dogs still go nuts with joy when we get home.

While its clear that dogs do not have the same complex emotions that humans experience, they have learned to reciprocate the affection we give them. Dogs become very attached to their people and many dogs would do anything to protect their human family. We know by a dogs behavior that they can experience fear and happiness. They have their way of showing those emotions. My Doberman Thunder happens to be afraid of thunder. I know this because he puts his ears and tail down and goes to his corner or comes to me for comfort. My爁emale Doberman, Autumn,爂ets scared when the smoke alarm goes off. She comes to爌ress herself against me and she shakes. They instinctively know to come to us for comfort燼nd reassurance.

We have all seen our dogs show their happiness by the way their ears perk up and their tails wag. Their mouths are slightly open and relaxed and their body language is clear. Dogs are also very sensitive to our moods and feelings.牋They can be a great comfort to us when we are upset or sad.

While it may be true that we燼ttribute more complex爀motion and human characteristics爐o our dogs than they are capable of, we all know how much our dogs enrich our lives, and we know we would miss the love and devotion they show us every day.

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