Next Question
I think for most animals, it's pretty easy to tell if an animal loves you. They will seem eager to see, happy to see you when you show up after you've been gone. For example, I have a friend whose two cats meet her at the front door and flop at her feet when she comes home. My dog literally goes bezerk bouncing off the walls when i come home and then he jumps all over me and licks me and licks me and licks me, and gets all excited and his tail just wags and wags. It's hard to miss the love in that.
Even little hamsters in cages can show affection by running to the side of the cage when you come up to it instead of hiding under something.
Fish? I'm not sure fish remember long enough to love anyone!
Mostly, I think it shows in behavior - does the pet seem comfortable and is able to relax around you? Does the pet pull away or get stiff when you try to touch it? Can you easily handle the pet without it nipping, scratching, biting, etc?
Sometimes, you can tell because they look at you with a look in their eyes that just can't be mistaken for anything but love.
I've had some mail cats in my past who I don't think loved me, but they merely tolerated my co-existence with them, and were grateful I fed them now and again.
I think it's sort of an unspoken bond -- you just 'know' when a pet loves you.
Permalink | Report
By Stanley Coren | Illustration by Jess Golden
IF YOU WANT TO CAUSE A COMMOTION IN ANY PSYCHOLOGY department or any other place where animal and human behaviour is studied, all that you have to do is to claim that your dog loves you. Skeptics, critics, and even some ardent supporters will pour out into the halls to argue the pros and cons of that statement.
Among the skeptics you will find the veterinarian Fred Metzger, of Pennsylvania State University, who claims that dogs probably don't feel love in the typical way humans do. Dogs make investments in human beings because it works for them. They have something to gain from putting so-called emotions out there. Metzger believes that dogs "love" us only as long as we continue to reward their behaviours with treats and attention.
For most dog owners, however, there is little doubt that dogs can truly love people. Take the story of Rocky and Rita from the Finger Lakes region of New York State, near Rochester.
Rocky was a solid 65-pound Boxer, classically colored with a chestnut brown coat and a white blaze on his chest. At the time of this story, Rocky was three years old and Rita was his eleven-year-old companion. Rocky had been given to Rita when he was ten weeks old, and she immediately bonded with him, petting him, handfeeding him, teaching him basic commands, and letting him sleep on her bed. Whenever she was not in school, the two were always together and within touching distance. The family would often fondly refer to the pair as "R and R."
Rita was a relatively timid and shy girl, and as the dog grew in stature he brought her a sense of security. When Rocky was next to her she felt confident enough to meet new people and to go to unfamiliar places. Rocky took on the roles, not only of friend and confidant, but also of defender.
When encountering strangers
Source(s):
http://www.moderndogmagazine.com/articles/can-dogs-love-true-story/132
Permalink | Report
michelleld...
I know that with female cats, they have two ways of expressing affection.
One is to spray in a constant location close to where it's normal for the cat to find you, like a desk, or a bed (yes, female cats spray too... it's not just male cats that spray... it's just that female cat spray doesn't smell as strong as male cat spray, and the females only do it when they feel affection for others in her territory, whereas for the male it an expression of hostility to keep other *out* of his territory).
The second is, if you lay on your stomach, female cats will jump on your back and massage it if they like you.
With male cats, it's that they'll go on walks with you. Yes, believe it or not, you can walk a cat like a dog, if it's a male cat, and if it loves you.
With dogs, the general rule of thumb is... if they love you, they'll rip the liver out of anyone or anything to attack you.
Permalink | Report
Source(s):
How to teach Your babies Respect animals
http://www.ehow.com/how_5440197_teach-babies-respect-animals.html
Permalink | Report
If you have a dog, you pet the dog's head, he might return by licking you. This is how he shows he loves you. :-)
Source(s):
http://www.puppy-training-at-home.com/
Permalink | Report
Answered Question
Best Answer Decided by Votes
| September 28, 2009 03:34 AM |
Even little hamsters in cages can show affection by running to the side of the cage when you come up to it instead of hiding under something.
Fish? I'm not sure fish remember long enough to love anyone!
Mostly, I think it shows in behavior - does the pet seem comfortable and is able to relax around you? Does the pet pull away or get stiff when you try to touch it? Can you easily handle the pet without it nipping, scratching, biting, etc?
Sometimes, you can tell because they look at you with a look in their eyes that just can't be mistaken for anything but love.
I've had some mail cats in my past who I don't think loved me, but they merely tolerated my co-existence with them, and were grateful I fed them now and again.
I think it's sort of an unspoken bond -- you just 'know' when a pet loves you.
Permalink | Report
Voted as best: fabliaux, kty2777, safiqulislam, chriswingate, windowshopping, shinju, bunnyphuphu, twinpairs
Other Answers (4)
September 27, 2009 11:19 PM
Can Dogs Love? A True Story By Stanley Coren | Illustration by Jess Golden
IF YOU WANT TO CAUSE A COMMOTION IN ANY PSYCHOLOGY department or any other place where animal and human behaviour is studied, all that you have to do is to claim that your dog loves you. Skeptics, critics, and even some ardent supporters will pour out into the halls to argue the pros and cons of that statement.
Among the skeptics you will find the veterinarian Fred Metzger, of Pennsylvania State University, who claims that dogs probably don't feel love in the typical way humans do. Dogs make investments in human beings because it works for them. They have something to gain from putting so-called emotions out there. Metzger believes that dogs "love" us only as long as we continue to reward their behaviours with treats and attention.
For most dog owners, however, there is little doubt that dogs can truly love people. Take the story of Rocky and Rita from the Finger Lakes region of New York State, near Rochester.
Rocky was a solid 65-pound Boxer, classically colored with a chestnut brown coat and a white blaze on his chest. At the time of this story, Rocky was three years old and Rita was his eleven-year-old companion. Rocky had been given to Rita when he was ten weeks old, and she immediately bonded with him, petting him, handfeeding him, teaching him basic commands, and letting him sleep on her bed. Whenever she was not in school, the two were always together and within touching distance. The family would often fondly refer to the pair as "R and R."
Rita was a relatively timid and shy girl, and as the dog grew in stature he brought her a sense of security. When Rocky was next to her she felt confident enough to meet new people and to go to unfamiliar places. Rocky took on the roles, not only of friend and confidant, but also of defender.
When encountering strangers
Source(s):
http://www.moderndogmagazine.com/articles/can-dogs-love-true-story/132
Permalink | Report
Voted as best: worldflavors
michelleld...
September 28, 2009 03:31 AM
It's really better to answer with your own words than to copy and paste someone else's article in here like this. If the asker had done an internet search, they could have found this article too, but they chose to ask because they wanted to hear normal opinions and advice from those who know. Copying and pasting someone else doesn't help with that, and it violates other's copyrights. You might want to read the Mahalo tutorial on how to properly quote other sources.
Tip michelleldevon for this comment
Report
September 30, 2009 12:49 AM
Thank you for the information. I am new to mahalo and just learning.
Report
September 28, 2009 12:18 AM
Depends on the kind of pet. I know that with female cats, they have two ways of expressing affection.
One is to spray in a constant location close to where it's normal for the cat to find you, like a desk, or a bed (yes, female cats spray too... it's not just male cats that spray... it's just that female cat spray doesn't smell as strong as male cat spray, and the females only do it when they feel affection for others in her territory, whereas for the male it an expression of hostility to keep other *out* of his territory).
The second is, if you lay on your stomach, female cats will jump on your back and massage it if they like you.
With male cats, it's that they'll go on walks with you. Yes, believe it or not, you can walk a cat like a dog, if it's a male cat, and if it loves you.
With dogs, the general rule of thumb is... if they love you, they'll rip the liver out of anyone or anything to attack you.
Permalink | Report
September 28, 2009 02:29 AM
There are too many animals in the world.But first i think you should respect animals,then they will love you.You question is too board i see
Source(s):
How to teach Your babies Respect animals
http://www.ehow.com/how_5440197_teach-babies-respect-animals.html
Permalink | Report
September 28, 2009 12:44 PM
As long as you are able to provide food and affection to your pet, your pet will love you :-) Please understand that pets are different from human, most animal including dogs, guinea pigs and cats they only need food, water and may be affection. If you have a dog, you pet the dog's head, he might return by licking you. This is how he shows he loves you. :-)
Source(s):
http://www.puppy-training-at-home.com/
Permalink | Report
Voted as best: keepontryin
Answer this Question
Related Questions
Ask a Question
Buy Mahalo Dollars with Credit Card or PayPal
Top Members
Most Popular Tags
Categories
- Anonymous
- Arts & Design
- Beauty & Style
- Books & Authors
- Business
- Cars & Transportation
- Consumer Electronics
- Coupons Deals
- Education
- Entertainment
- Environment
- Fitness
- Food & Drink
- From Email
- From Iphone
- From Twitter
- Health
- History
- Hobbies
- Home & Garden
- How Tos
- Humor
- Jobs
- Legal
- Local
- Love & Relationships
- Mahalo Answers Community
- Money
- Music
- News
- NSFW
- Parenting
- Pets
- Science & Mathematics
- Services
- Shopping
- Social Science
- Society & Culture
- Sports
- Technology & Internet
- Travel
- Video Games
Welcome New Members
- jasondouchebag, November 22, 2009 07:49 AM
- maximfafard, November 22, 2009 07:16 AM
- messagraal, November 22, 2009 07:15 AM
- conundrum_mikey..., November 22, 2009 07:02 AM
- tarakelly2, November 22, 2009 06:56 AM
Mahalo Dollars are the currency of Mahalo Answers.
Each Mahalo Dollar costs $1.
Once you earn more than 40 Mahalo Dollars, you can request to be paid via PayPal. Each Mahalo Dollar is currently worth $0.75 when paid out via PayPal. Learn More
