Actually, many zoologists are curious: why are dogs very loyal to their owners? Is it driven by instinctual emotions, or is it for the sake of obtaining food and attention?
1、 The Story of Dogs Saving People
Recently, a strange event occurred in Kenya: a newborn baby girl abandoned in the forest was discovered by a mother dog. It left the forest with the baby in its mouth, walked a busy road, crossed a barbed wire, and arrived at its nest in the slums of the capital Nairobi. Then, the mother dog takes care of the baby girl and her own little dog together.
Later, two local children found the baby girl in the doghouse after hearing her crying. People reported the incident to the nearby police station and took the baby girl to a local hospital. The story of dogs saving people once again brings a long debated scientific topic to people’s attention: Does your dog really love you? Scientists, veterinarians, and dog owners have long been confused about the relationship between humans and their friends – dogs. There has always been controversy over whether dogs can perceive emotions, especially love.
2、 Opinions of different scholars
According to Fred Metteger, a visiting lecturer in zoology at Pennsylvania State University, “Dogs may not perceive love in the typical form of humans. Dogs pour all their emotions into humans because they are faithful ‘servants’ of humans. The more intelligent dogs give us, the more we feel they love us. This is more likely to make us pay more attention to dogs, give them more food, and give them more opportunities to engage in outdoor activities.” Metteger infers from this that as long as we constantly treat and pay attention to their skills and comical movements, dogs will always “love” us. However, pet dog registration trainer Leslie Bulgard does not believe that a dog’s “first love” is so simple. Bulgard said, “The loyalty of dogs is unconditional, much like the selfless love of parents for their children. In most cases, our dogs will always stand by our side, even in the most difficult and unfavorable situations. This love and loyalty drive emotions from instinct.”.
3、 “Loyalty to the owner of the dog” originates from the dog’s instinct
So, what is the motivation behind dogs loving us humans so much? Researchers have found that almost all animals have a sense of group consciousness, and wolves, as ancestors of dogs, stand out in this regard. An isolated wolf can die quickly. Dogs and humans live together, and they naturally see every member of the family as a part of the “dog pack”. The survival of the group requires unity, friendship, and mutual support from each member. So when danger occurs, at least when the dog thinks it’s dangerous, it will naturally protect every member of the family. Of course, sometimes it’s natural for dogs to seek protection from us. Primate zoologist Jane Goodall’s research suggests that animals do indeed have emotions. He believes that from a behavioral perspective, it is only meaningful when animals can experience emotions, and social animals must be able to read the emotions of other animals in their community and maintain some kind of social bond.
So, everyone just go and love your dog. No matter what motivation you have, dogs will unconditionally repay you and remain loyal for life!
