Dogs are like children or are wild beasts
. At various levels, ranging from extreme to relatively moderate, it can be said that the majority of dog owners are divided on these two positions. But the reality of dogs is different and much more complicated.
The fact is that dogs are animals with their own characteristics of species and breed (or mix of breeds) but they have a very particular position, unique in the world. They are extraordinarily close to humans . In fact, dogs are “the only animals that really live with us, not just next to us”, as the famous ethologist Irenaus Eibl-Eibesfeldt explains.
And so for millennia, so much so that for dogs and humans there is even talk of convergent evolution.They are not therefore wild beasts but unlike what one might deduce, if only by exclusion, they are not even children.
This is one of the reasons that makes dogs so fascinating and so complex: they combine animal and human characteristics in a single being, they are humanized but they are not human. And it is their being so special that enriches those who decide to share life with them so much. That said, here are some things dogs have in common with humans and why it’s important to consider them.
Index
- Dogs are social animals
- Dogs feel emotions
- Each dog has its own character and personality
- Dogs have emotional needs
- Dogs have sense of themselves
- Dogs establish bonds
- The human being is the safe haven of his dog
Dogs are social animals
Dogs, just like humans, are social animals who need others and know how to be with others. Our four-legged friends know how to communicate with others and understand the communications of others. They are able to understand the words even if they do not speak: we assume that they do so that we do not realize how extraordinary it is.
And again, they learn to behave by observing others (both dogs and humans), they anticipate the behavior of others. For dogs the group, the ‘we’, is very important, it counts more than the ego. The implications for the owners are important. Here are three: dogs need to be members of a group to be healthy, they must therefore be considered and treated as real members of the human family; they must not be left alone for long, for them loneliness is unnatural and alone they suffer; they must be able to trust and trust their humans. Dogs have emotions
Just like humans, dogs also have feelings and emotions. Dogs obviously are not able to experience the full range of feelings of a human being, but they still manage to make their owner understand his moods:
- Fear;
- Love;
- congratulates;
- Uncertainty and insecurity;
- Embarrassment;
- Anticipation;
- Excitement;
- Jealousy;
- Surprise;
- Trust / mistrust;
- Sadness;
- Anger:
- Calm;
- Serenity;
- nervousness;
- Stress;
- Suffering (physical and psychological);
- Anxiety;
- Agitation;
- Girl;
- Defensiveness;
- Worry;
- Satisfaction / dissatisfaction;
- Optimism / pessimism.
Loving and relating well to your dog means recognizing and respecting their feelings, emotions and moods and giving the dog what it needs. For example, a dog who is afraid needs comfort; a stressed dog needs to be protected; an uncertain dog needs to be guided; a dissatisfied dog needs to have a better life. Each dog has its own character and personality
. Dogs are all different, no two dogs are alike, not even two siblings from the same litter. Each dog has its own character and personality, as well as its tastes, desires and preferences. Dogs can be:
- Shy;
- Introverts / extroverts;
- Reserved;
- Playful;
- Kind;
- Respectful;
- I rush in;
- Curious;
- Tolerant / intolerant;
- Fearful;
- Employees / self-employed;
- Quiet / excited;
- Emotional;
- Calm down;
- Impulsive;
- Thoughtful;
- Witty;
- Series;
- Wary;
- Intrusive;
- Essays;
- Bulli;
- Sensitive.
Also in this case the parallelism with humans is evident. Loving your dog and relating well to him means recognizing his individuality, respecting his needs deriving from his character and his personality and appreciating it for what it is, each one made his way. Dogs have emotional needs
Just like humans, dogs need to feel: loved, appreciated, understood, supported, guided, respected. To live a rewarding life with your four-legged friend, it is essential to respect his emotional needs. Dogs have sense of themselves
Dogs have a sense of themselves and their abilities: there are those who are sure of themselves and their abilities, those who think they are worthless and those who do not know who they are or what they can do and suffer from it. The former tend to be calm, the latter and third parties need help. You notice the parallelism with humans, no Dogs establish bonds
There is friendship between dogs and it is scientifically proven that the bond that is formed between dogs and owners is comparable to that between parents and children. Another extraordinary similarity between dogs and humans. The human being and his dog’s safe haven About
him Dogs need their humans as children need their parents. Their humans are the source of love and guidance,reference and safe harbor to turn to and from which to receive safety and support. Why it is important to focus on how dogs are similar to humans
This is explained by the great ethologist Mark Bekoff: it is certainly the way to understand them better and serves to relate to them and treat them in the best possible way.
Dogs have a lot in common with humans (just think of the need to be appreciated, be afraid, feel insecure, benefit from being comforted), but obviously they have a human dimension for humans and a canine dimension for dogs. Loving dogs and treating them well means both recognizing and respecting the aspects they have in common with humans and considering and satisfying those of the canine dimension.
