O/T: Do dogs experience emotions?

[IronFist]

Most people have one of two beliefs.

1. Dogs spend most of their life in search of food. This is why they get all excited when you eat something... cuz you might drop something on the floor or break off a piece for them. They also know that if they do the tricks (sit, shake, lay down, etc.) you want, they'll get rewarded with food. So, it could be assumed that dogs pay attention to you and spend time with you because they think that increases their chances of getting food or treats, which is basically their main objective in life.

Similarly, if a dog does something that he thinks you will percieve as "bad" (like if he knocks something off a table), he will cower not because he feels remorse, but because he fears your wrath (yelling, scolding, hopefully not actually hitting, etc.).

2. Dogs experience emotions similar to those of humans, and actually spend time with you because they have fun and want to. If they do something bad, they feel bad, etc.

What do you think?

IronFist

[SevenStar]

they have emotions.

[TjD]

dogs definately have emotions, theyre just way more overpowering than ours are.

[Souljah]

yeah i think they do.

[red5angel]

no doubt in my mind they do.

[Chang Style Novice]

Dogs, yes. Cats, no.

[KC Elbows]

They experience emotions.

A good friend of mine is an anthropologist, did a lot of research work with chimps who could do sign. She has a whole bunch of studies that suggest just about all animals have emotions of one sort or another. She's found no legitimate studies that suggest they do not. Make of that what you will.

This is from an anthropologist who has directly communicated with animals through a common language.

[Chang Style Novice]

KC - I'm curious how far your friend's claims extend. I have a hunch that emotions are pretty much exclusive to mammals (people, dogs, ninjas) and maybe birds. Or put another way:

I have a hard time buying that turtles, tuna, termites or tarantulas have emotions.

[Ford Prefect]

Chang,

I believe the common held belief based on research and brain structure is that most social animals experience "emotions" to a varying degree. These emotions are part of the glue that binds their societies together.

As for tuna and turtles, very primitive parts of the brain regulate fear, agression, pleasure, etc. This means that in it's basest sense, all animals experience emotions.

The main question that plagues researchers today is how these animals experience the emotions. Are social animals like the chimp, wolf, etc self aware? Do they know they are an individual?

[ewallace]

As for tuna and turtles, very primitive parts of the brain regulate fear, agression, pleasure, etc.

Hence the reason Bill Parcells is likely to become the next coach of the dallas cowboys.

[guohuen]

Hahaha, Oh my dear God. That will be a match make in heaven.
Btw, What do you call a room full of millionaires watching the superbowl on television? The Dallas cowboys.

[ewallace]

What do you call a room full of millionaires watching the superbowl on television?

Last year's superbowl teams.

[Chang Style Novice]

"As for tuna and turtles, very primitive parts of the brain regulate fear, agression, pleasure, etc. This means that in it's basest sense, all animals experience emotions."

This strikes me as merely begging the question. At what point do mere instinctive behaviors become complex enough to be called emotions? It may be simple anti-arthropod bigotry, but I don't think cockroaches can be said to be emotional creatures, even though they avoid pain, seek out food and sex, etc..

A dog, on the other hand, will demostrate recognizable playfulness, greed, remorse, hatred, protectiveness, they'll pine for absent loved ones (loneliness), hell, I'm pretty sure I've known neurotic and manic-depressive dogs.

[Braden]

Have you spent as much time cultivating relationships with ants as you have with dogs though?

[Chang Style Novice]

If by 'cultivating relationships' you mean 'trying to keep them out of the god**** kitchen,' then yes.