Does Your Dog Really Love You?

Does you dog really love you? According to Marc Bekoff, cognitive ethologist and author, dogs most likely think and feel similarly to humans. However, not all dogs will automatically show you their love and affection.

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Following is a transcript of the video:

Your dog is the best. You go on long walks together, cuddle up on the couch, and enjoy sloppy kisses. You really love that pup. But … is there any way to know if your dog loves you back?

Well, first let’s address the bigger question: does your dog love anything? Can your dog love?

Marc Bekoff: “I think we can, in many ways, apply the same criteria to dogs as we do to human animals.”

Marc Bekoff spent a lifetime understanding animal minds. From coyotes and wolves to domestic dogs like yours, and he says that dogs probably think and feel similar to humans.

Marc Bekoff: “A lot of new research on neuroimaging using functional magnetic resonance imaging- fMRI’s, is showing that the same parts of dog brains and human brains light up when for example, they’re feeling jealous.”

So the difference between how your dog feels joy, and other emotions, and how you experience them, might be like the difference between you and another human. So dogs can likely experience what we’d think of as loving relationships and studies show that dogs are pretty good at building relationships with us, too.

One study found that dog brains are highly adapted to recognizing human faces and interpreting our social cues. So, maybe that’s how your dog always knows when you had a bad day.

But are those puppy dog eyes just for you or is your dog only pretending to love you for food?

Marc Bekoff: “That, I think, is really ridiculous. Are there dogs who use people for certain things? I’m sure there are, just like there are some people who use people for certain things. But i don’t think that would characterize the overall nature of dog-human relationships.”

So yes, your dog can love you!

But just because they can doesn’t automatically mean they do.

Marc Bekoff: “To say that they’re unconditional lovers is just ridiculous. Each dog is a unique individual and it’s not one-size-fits-all. Even the most brutally abused dogs I’ve met who took months to get them to even make eye contact with me have the capacity to love. But there’s just very good reasons why they don’t. In order for you to feel the love, you have to earn that trust.”

And like everything worth having in life, that trust will take time and work. But it can be done.

Marc Bekoff: “It’s sometimes just telling them they’re a good dog when they’ve done nothing. I did a study about the frequency with which people say no, stop that, versus “good dog.”

And, don’t worry, you’ll know once you’ve gotten to that special point in your relationship.

Marc Bekoff: “Do they follow you around, do they just hang out with you, not only when you’re feeding them or walking them. Do they seek you out? When you’re not there, is it clear that they miss you?

Oh yeah, that’s one happy dog. So can your dog love you? Absolutely.

Does your dog love you? Well, that’s on you.

[therizinosaurs]

I caught my dog watching a video called ‘Does your human really love you?’

[charizardgarfild]

He protecc,
He attac,
But most importantly,
He'll love you bacc...

[AJarOfYams]

I have the urge to pet every single dog in this video

[bethanymullineux]

my teacher once told our class that our dogs incapable of loving us and everyone got salty

[ManamiKeel]

Dogs are the best. We don´t deserve them, they are so good to us.

[feartheghus]

Dude, you ask if dogs can love as a philosophical question. Philosophers still debate whether humans truly feel love.

[carly_]

My little ball of fur and slobber is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Ever since he was a puppy he’s had some health issues though. It hasn’t been easy but then I see his cute little face and I’m reminded that both of us need each other. I love my dog and I know that he loves me too.

[Kovukingsrod]

I BLOODY LOVE MY DOG
HE’S SO CUTE AND WHEN WE CUDDLE IT’S THE BEST
ALSO SO MANY GOOD DOGGOS IN THIS VIDEO
IT MADE ME VERY HAPPY

[petercarioscia]

I feel like if you've ever had a pet Dog, cat or even a rat, you know these creatures are capable of what we consider high level emotions. I wouldn't say the same of something like a Hamster or a fish, but I've never had them as pets. My brother's fish seem to recognize him, they won't come to me unless I have food, but will swim toward him. I used to have pet rats and they had personalities, showed fear and happiness, friendliness and sadness. It wasn't me projecting my feelings unto them, and even if it was just them reacting to me or the people around them, that shows they can read and react a accurately to emotion, they have empathy. Yes, rats do laugh when you rub their bellies. A well trained rat is a palmed sized dog (without the genetic deformities of a...palm sized dog)

[anthonybeam]

When my dog was 14 1/2 and I was 24 I realized her arthritis was really really bad and she was losing control of her bladder what I couldn't/refused to see hit me
She will be dead soon
I sat down really sad and started crying I've had this dog since I was 10 and despite having no food to offer my dog walked to me as fast as she could and put her head on my knee THAT IS LOVE PEOPLE
Rip Munchkin 1999 - 2014

[omelfilip]

I love my dog the way I love the rest of my blood related family, and I feel the same connection from my dog, I know she loves me as well as everyone else in my family, my parents, my siblings and my grandma. She greets me when I come home from a long day, I kneel down and she jumps onto my shoulders to give me a big hug and some kisses, and she's very selective of who she gives affection too, obviously she gives the same attention to my other family members but the same can't be said about other visitors, she often growls and gets aggressive towards complete strangers, she does that to protect us, and I can only assume she does that because she cares and loves us enough to have the instinct to protect us. She follows me around the house, she always wants to be where most of the family is, people who say dogs can't love must be out of their minds. Dogs are born to be good creatures, they deserve just as much love as they give, and then more. I know no one will probably care enough to read this, but I love my dog so much I just can't help but express how much I truly love her.

[vulpesvelox]

I got my boy when he was 10 weeks old...4 years later he still follows me, hangs out with me and gives me all the kisses ❤ (on his free will)

[joyceestefanyvejerano]

I miss Jake, stay happy there in heaven my obedient dog. You've got good company there for 2 months already. Still a bit sad but I'm so glad that you finally had your rest and I will and always be your hooman and you'll be my good dog. See you up there pup 💖

[theshockinglyeloquentdog]

2:39 the love in that man's voice...im smiling so hard...he really gets it...

[driven_films]

Seriously, this dude's one the best narrators/voice actors of any series on YouTube! I'll watch any video he narrates.

[derekscanlan]

Seems to be an obsolete question in the present day?

They've spent 30, 000 years learning how to love humans. I think they've become quite good at it!

[mrgray]

I love him and he loves me
I leave for 5 mins to the grocery store and when I come back he greets me as if we haven't seen each other for years, hugs, wet kisses and he nibbling on my ear which tickles and makes me laugh. Such a good pooch (my first dog too, by the way)

[AyaanKhan-tbot]

Yesterday i saw a street puppy that was left by his mom. I adopted him and since then without me he starts crying.

[stefanocovre]

Great Mark Bekoff, that's the most genuine way to consider another being, thank you for the clear explanation

[ZetasPlace]

Omg I literally thought my dog only liked me for treats and toys. I’m so glad I watched this because my dog does follow me and miss me sometimes. Yay!!