News Poll | Twiigs

Many dog owners have had this experience: Arriving home, they discover their pooch looking sheepish: head down, ears pulled back, tail tucked between the legs, maybe slinking behind the sofa. Puzzled, they soon discover the reason: a favorite pair of shoes chewed to pieces, or perhaps the kitchen garbage can upended.

But is their canine companion really acting guilty? Or is this an example of people projecting human emotion onto their four-legged friend?

Do you think dogs can show human emotions?

Yes
84%
No
15%

Created on Jul 1, 2009

Closed

Total Votes: 1,607

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Comments (7):

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comments 1 - 7 of 7

Posted on Jul 2, 2009 at 5:50 AM by terpinator:

Poorly worded question. Dogs show DOG emotions. Dogs most certainly emotions. We learn to interpret their emotions through our filter has humans and label them as human. Just as certainly as dogs learn to interpret emotions.

Our cat is very ill and will likley pass away today. The dogs know something is wrong and displayed different emotions this morning.

Posted on Jul 2, 2009 at 6:20 AM by markmsanto:

Agreed that the wording of this question is flawed. A better example might be, "Are dogs capable of understanding and feeling emotions as humans do?" In addition to selecting "yes" or "no" for an answer, a third choice would have been welcomed: "I don't know but they're up to something."

Posted on Jul 2, 2009 at 6:51 AM by tegan:

Dogs are "Social"animals, so are people. We both "Show" our feeling, by expressions. We smile, dogs just wag their tail. We shout, dogs bark. We "swing" dogs bite. Simple. The 18%, that "don"t understand" this, don't own a dog!

Posted on Jul 2, 2009 at 8:11 AM by trilorrie:

Yeah, exactly, they show dog emotions, many of which coincide with human emotions. I don't think they show guilt, they show submission. They may know when they have displeased us, and when they have displeased us enough to get in trouble, but that doesn't imply that they think they did something bad.

Now, happiness, love, protectiveness, jealousy, there are lots of feelings that we share. But they are dogs, not furry people.

Posted on Jul 2, 2009 at 11:12 AM by eleeper1:

Emotions aren't canine or human. There are cetain basic emotions: fear, anger, happiness that are interspecies, others that are more specific. Dogs certainly have and show emotions. I don't think Guilt as humans understand it is being shown, but it is a dogs are showing a canine emotion that we might not know.

Posted on Jul 2, 2009 at 1:32 PM by heyjude1949:

I don't think it is my imagination or misinterpretation of my dog's feelings when I say the word "ride" or "walk" or "bad dog". His response is very, very appropriate. My child was the same way when I said "movie", "ice cream" or "go to your room". Some of their feelings can be interpreted, some cannot but do they have feelings? You bet your life they do and I am so glad that they do.

Posted on Jul 2, 2009 at 10:08 PM by felton32:

When i was sitting on a step, crying, our chowX came up and laid his head on my lap - later, when i pretended to cry - he ignored me .....

AND i'm not going to heaven, if i get the chance, if dogs are not there !

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