Animal behaviorists say dogs possess empathy and compassion

This is interesting.

Dogs are full of natural goodness and have rich emotional lives, said animal behaviorist Marc Bekoff, professor emeritus at the University of Colorado, Boulder.

A dog's code of ethics is on display daily in parks, backyards and family rooms.

"We're not trying to elevate animals," Bekoff said. "We're not trying to reduce humans. We're not saying we're better or worse or the same. We're saying we're not alone in having a nuanced moral system."

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2009226383_dogs16.html

this story was on the news Thursday night,

http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=resources/traffic&id=6812473


Many, if not most animals have empathy and compassion.

Elephant mourn their dead with rituals to honor them.
Dogs risk their lives to save friends and family members,
Wolves mate for life and are monogamous.

the list goes on and on.

Thanks for sharing this, Swede.

and horses mourn when their friends die

already knows this.

;)

Hehe.

:hi:

I'm going to wait for the double-blind study before I even dare imagine that dogs might have feelings.
:sarcasm:

Now, granted, we cannot read a dog's mind. To some extent dogs have evolved in a way to make a positive impression on us and their facial expressions and behavior are likely part of that. Of course we could say the same thing about humans. Nevertheless, being so closely related by evolution, it would be a lot more surprising if they did not have emotions. So I think the observed emotive behavior of dogs is more than anecdotal. Unlike, say a claim that a particular quack therapy works or that one is sure about god because s/he subjectively feels it.

does not deserve to share space with a dog.

It doesn't surprise me at all that animals closely related to humans (compared to bugs or lizards) share some of our characteristics.

I knew it!

The fact nobody believes this simply proves how ignorant human beings are.

For example, if someone in my house is distressed and either yelling or crying, my female kitty will run over, put her paws on the person, and look intently into their face.

My cats pick up on this stuff. If I am emotionally upset, Pip usually shows up and gives me a "kiss" on the nose or forehead', and Brianna has a knack for burrowing when I'm not feeling well.

I went through a very bad period last summer and my cat wouldn't leave my side. He curled up next to me and purred nonstop for days trying to comfort me. He knew.

but it's there. They're far more than meat and bones animated by preprogrammed instinct, that's for sure.

Speaking historically, we've only just begun the serious and scientific study of ourselves and fellow creatures a split second ago. We've got a hell of a lot to learn. We should be humbled by that fact, and, as the last sentence in the article says, "If we can't know for sure, let's give them the benefit of a doubt." Sort of like, let's demonstrate our own empathy and compassion.

done better by this time.

Dogs are thinking,"When will these chimp-things ever learn!!!"


Funny, though that scientists are the last to figure this out.
:shrug:


mark

that's my theory.

Better than the monolith in 2001

(I'm sure the dogs hope that as well.)

mark

It was the dog that help to civilize us.

We would have never had succeeded as a species without them.

Some humans appear to be slow on the uptake.

:D

For that matter, I think that they're even more attuned to our emotions than the humans around us. I don't have a dog at the moment due to where I live but, in the past, every dog I've ever had was able to sense my emotions much more keenly than the humans surrounding me. When I was really down, my dogs always knew right away and would always, without fail, try to make me feel better.

Zoe felt for me after my surgery... and in 2007, staying up after 11:15PM, Zoe knocked open her cage door, waddled out, and cheeped because I was too busy putting together the computer...

They do know.

She'd beep and chuck until he'd take her out her cage and give her a cuddle and quality time. She'd groom his hair and burble. They both felt better afterward.

Yes, they know.

A few days after one of my cats died, I was at the vet's office
- it was a sudden, unexpected death from kidney failure that
was undetected until the last few days, so the vet wanted to
talk to me.I was in the waiting room, awaiting my turn.

I was in extreme pain, the kitty who lives there jumped on my lap
and stayed there until a large dog patient came from an exam room.
Lupe, the kitty moved to my other side while the dog came up to me
and licked my hand.The dog had never seen me before.
Lupe was always a little stand offish until that day.

I petted and talked to both of them.
They were such a comfort to me.

Now- is that compassion and sympathy?

Yes it is!

This happened in March of this year.

I love critters!!

:)

In a vet's waiting room, having just lost my beloved cat and trying to hold it together and not break down in sobs in front of a roomful of strangers. A large and very old-looking dog walked over to me and started nuzzling/licking, to which his person commented "he wants to help". It was one of the most touching experiences of my life.

Oh hell, now I'm tearing up all over again...

I started tearing up when I wrote my post.

Their empathy and compassion is tear inducing
in its beauty.

I'm so sorry for your loss,
I sure know what that is like.
It is hell to go through.

:hug:

And a recent National Geographic regarding animal intelligence stated that Border Collies can learn upwards of 300 words.

Score two for dogs.

very, very upset.

My dog knew.

He tried very hard to comfort me. He knew, and he felt bad for me.

for relationships than most men my age. Seriously.

...when she heard another dog crying out somewhere in the night. She didn't join in the howl, but she started whining and was clearly distressed to know that another dog nearby was in pain. She also knows every time one of her puppies is scheduled to go to a new home - whether the new owners are picking up the pup, or whether I'm delivering. She knows a day in advance, and starts looking very perturbed. She's not overtly lovey-dovey with her pups after they're weaned, but she gets sad when they leave home.