Do dogs feel and have love, sorrow, sadness?

Question

I am a dog owner and my knee jerk reaction is: Of course they do. But do they really or is it mostly instincually driven.

My dog is very attached to me and so am I to her. If I dropped dead, would my dog feel sadness and sorrow like a human? What emtional level in human terms does a dog really have, or are they capable of? I've always been curious of this.

I'm not talking about the simple little unique "dog things" that all dogs do, but how and what they really feel about us?

So do you think they really actually have love for us humans, or is simply a instinct driven nature that the dog has?

Answer 1

Excellent question!!! I wish that I had an excellent answer, but unfortunately, I do not.

I do believe some animals , such as those in the monkey family can experience some human emotions but not on the same level as people. It's also been shown that elephants grieve and attempt to bury or cover another elephant's body.

As for dogs, I believe they know what joy, happiness, and especially fear is. I think dogs love in the sense that they are happy when their owner gives them attention, plays with them, or pets them.

I also believe they can be sad or fearful if someone they "love" suddenly is no longer around or has done something cruel to them and can very possibly become quiet or depressed.

I don't, however, believe, believe they are able to rationalize or associate the meaning of love, happiness, fear or death in the same way as humans do, but I do believe that they are quite capable of experiencing and showing emotions.

I'm sorry that don't have a better answer, and I've probably just added more confusion :-)

Answer 2

Dogs very definitely form attachements to their humans. They are after all, a pack animal and you are the alpha leader. Particularly sensitive dogs can be so upset by the disappearance of their owners, that they literally pine to death. This can also happen when one pet within the home dies. Whether it is "love" as we define it, or just a major disruption in their lives, is a hotly debated issue.

If you are familiar with the story of Gray Friars Bobby, it's the story of a terrier who followed his master to the graveyard and laid there, virtually the rest of his life. He would not leave the grave, and so neighboring businesses took pity on him and would feed him. He laid on the grave for fourteen years after his master died. There is now a statue outside the graveyard to commemorate his devotion. You might enjoy this site about the dog:
http://www.greyfriarsbobby.co.uk/story/story.html

A dog's emotions can't be placed on the same level as a human's since their brains do not function the same way. But do they love and do they grieve, yes. They are one of God's simplest creatures, expecting nothing more from their owner's than the basics of life, and giving back, their entire self.

Answer 3

Dogs are pack animals and they submit to their pack leader, which in this case is you. So as for "attached", no, your dog is not emotionally attached to you because animals don't have emotions or the power of reasoning, that is reserved for humans. Animals have instincts and learned behaviours. Your dog has learned where its food and comforts come from and who is boss, that's all. So as far as that goes, you have done a great job with your pet.

If you dropped dead and your dog was rehomed with someone who trained it properly, it would soon submit to the new pack leader. No room for sentimentality in the animal kingdom!

Answer 4

I believe they do have real feelings. Usually, when my dad is gone for a while, my dog will look out window sadly waiting for him to return (she's really attached to him)

Other examples are, when we leave her with relatives while we go on holidays, as soon as she sees us again, she is more happier than usual, more jumpy. You can see shes generally glad to see us again.

Taking these situations into consideration, How they react when patted, how they whimper or have their tail go between their legs in a sulking suggestion when you tell them to go out, i do believe they have emotion. Maybe not to the extent of a human, but the devotion they have is definitely there.

Answer 5

The answer is yes, if you dropped dead your dog would miss you and even grieve. When my great uncle died, his dog went into a dperession and died a few weeks later, it refused food, and drank very little. Vets had no clue what was wrong with it and discounted depressed dog, that was 15 years ago.

Answer 6

Yes I feel they have all those emotions. Ihave seen it with my own eyes. I know when they are sad and when they are oozing with love, pride and the profound sadness when a buddy of theirs dies. I had a Golden who lost her best buddy and she was so sad for quite some time. The look of loss and sorrow in her eyes almost broke my heart.
As far as instinct goes who cares.

Answer 7

Dogs can Love and they do show Love more than most people out there.

Answer 8

they have emotions.. when me and my bf split for 6 months he took his cat. we got her a kitten and my dog was very protective of her. anyways when she wasn't around he was so upset he just laid around didn't want to play wouldn't eat and just did this sad moan all the time.it got to the point he had seperation anxiety from her and was licking him self to the point he had open sores. I got the cat back to find out she stopped eating to stopped cleaning her self. So yes they have emotions and if you are close with your animals and have a bond with them you'll know.

Answer 9

Dogs have emotion, they build bonds with eachother and they certainly miss people and other animals they are used to being around. I'm not sure if they love though, I don't see why not.

Answer 10

yes ..in alot of ways thay are much like us. thay feel lose. thay love. i my self feel a greater trust to a dog then almost anyone i know