Are animals capable of "love"?

Question

....or does my Bull Mastiff just want me to feed him, walk him, and play with him occasionally?

If you're interested, here's a link to him...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tibFwd-I1Qw

Answer 1

Experiments showing that animals feel emotions similar to humans is more difficult than you might think. The reason is that emotions aren't something you can observe in others. There is no sure fire way of "seeing" if certain emotions like love exist in animals. However, one can, I believe, observe animal behavior
that might indicate underlying emotions, and several studies have shown this.

The best way to go about answering your question would be to think about it in an evolutionary context. That is, emotions play significant roles in helping a species function well and survive. In humans, love serves to bring us closer together and to cooperate with each other. This function is way more vital in certain species like humans and other mammals because
we depend greatly on each other for survival. This concept is emphasized in the familiar phrase "man is a social animal."

From this logic, it follows that any species that requires social interaction is also capable of "love," or something like it anyway. This is particularly true in the mother-offspring relationship that is blatantly evident in all mammals. In fact, it seems like a type of love that just "kicks in" instinctively. However, there might be a few key features that distinguish between animal "love" and human "love". When we talk about love between two people, for
example, we usually think about romance. This is something that most animals probably don't experience. Romantic love involves such things as intimacy (sharing and communicating feelings), creativity (writing poems, bringing home flowers, etc.), and respect for each others needs. Animal love is more
like enjoying each other's company, and so without any desire for intimacy, creativity or respect may not be present.

Answer 2

Of course they do lol!

Your mastiff looks small, is he young? maybe just the camera angle? Great dogs aren't they?

Mr. had two of them when we got together, one got bit by either a snake or spider and died at the vets. He keeps reminding me these are not "Bull Mastiffs" we have, but Mastiffs from another country...

We are very happy with the one that is still here with us. Very loyal and very loving, Very smart! I brought with me a cow dog then we went out and got a Saint Bernard....we are dog people lol!

Answer 3

Yes, my Mom, sister, and I have eight cats between us, and each of our cats knows who their "mommy" is. My two cats get all excited as soon as I come home, but the other six couldn't care less.
Also, check out this month's Readers' Digest, which has an article on animal intelligence...did you know that during the 2004 tsunami, elephants running away from the water scooped up human tourists to save them? That shows compassion, which to me shows therefore their capability to love.

Answer 4

Animals really are capible of love.

I mean, your dog greets you at the door when you come home from work or school because he missed you, he wants to play with you, and he is probably very content spending time with you when you're sitting around doing nothing.

That sounds like love to me. Of course he likes it when you take him for walks, play with him, and feed him, but he likes those things because he gets to do them with you.

People also say that cats aren't capible of love, because they are very independant creatures, however, if my cats didn't love me, then I don't think that I would have them competeing for my lap every time I sat down, and I don't think that they would want to be right by my side every time I went to sleep or watched a movie.

I even had a cat that I'd had since I was 3 who slept at the head of my bed every single night until the day she died. Since I got her when I was a little kid, I was also very very rough with her when I played, and even though she did scratch me a few times for it, she was always very quick to forgive me. She was also the first to come up and want to lay next to me when I was sad about something, and I couldn't tell you how many times I clung to her and sobbed, and all she did was sit still and listen to me.

She got sick about a month ago, and I had to have her put to sleep, but even though she was sick, she still wanted to be near me and be in my lap, even though I know it must have been very painful for her.

Being near me is the only way that she could show that she loved me. It wasn't because I was the one who fed her and took care of her. It was because somehow she knew how much I love her, and even though she couldn't express it in words, she knew how to express it in action.

Actions are how your dog shows that he loves you.

Answer 5

Neko is an adorable dog!

Yes, I do believe animals feel love in much the same way we do. Some species of animals mate for life, unlike most humans.

Answer 6

Animals are not capable of love. Love is a higher order brain function (it takes place in the frontal lobes) of which animals (in this case, dogs) do not have.

The dog can trust you, and know you give him food and play with him, but no, the dog cannot love you.

Answer 7

Yes, I do believe that animals are capable of love. I have only to look into my dog's eyes to know that! I also believe they have souls as well!

Answer 8

I don't want to see your link although I couldn't help myself and just checked it out. All I know is that my animals (domestic) love me (and I them) very much. They all are from shelters or have been rescued and I know they are very happy with me and the love and care that I give them. I can tell that they know the difference from where they came from to where they are now. Good Luck with yours

Answer 9

Oh,yes i firmly believe animals are capable of loving..they are also capable of being sad and depressed as well..my dog knows when i am upset she will come and lay her head on my shoulder it is amazing..they are smarter than some people think they are..

Answer 10

yes animals are capable of loving!! it maye want to be feed walked and played with but he also cares about you. if you give him love and affection they will return it. it may not be the same way but they do.thats probably why the are so domanit sometimes. but yeah your dog is a cutey!!!