Top 10 signs of a pet fanatic
Another interesting aspect of their behavior: The dogs also were told not to take a piece of food, but stole it more often when the human’s eyes were closed than when the human was watching, implying they fear disapproval. This likely explains why your dog is more likely to get up to no good when you aren’t around.
Some people really do prefer their dogs to other people and according a recent study published in Society and Animals, here’s one reason why: people feel more empathy toward dogs than each other.
Whatever comes of this knowledge, here’s hoping we grown people figure out how to find a way to respect each other’s vulnerabilities — and thus have more empathy toward each other.
Why? In their report, the scientists hypothesized that dogs, young or adult, have many of the same qualities associated with human babies, mainly vulnerability.
Study participants were shown fake news clips with the exact same story of a brutal attack, except the victims were alternately a puppy, a 6-year old dog, a one-year old baby and a 30-year old person. Then they were asked questions that measured how much empathy they felt for each victim. Their findings? The younger and more vulnerable the victim (meaning puppies and small children), the more empathy they felt, meaning the adult human came in last.
Why We Love Dogs More Than Humans – The Whys
Given all these considerations, it’s easy to understand why some of us seem to prefer animals over humans.
But the reality is a much bigger picture than we realize.
Animals touch the most intimate parts of our hearts: our need to nurture and protect, our need for companionship and love.
These needs exist within us, no matter what.
But it seems that animals have a unique ability to bring them out in us.
Dogs, cats, even lions, and monkeys inspire us to reveal these deep human needs, which we might otherwise keep hidden.
And there’s nothing pathological about that.
In fact, it proves that we have a deep capacity to love and care for others under the right circumstances.
Paradoxically, our love and care for animals free us to be human.
Animals are unflinching and unreserved with their love for us.
Sure, we feed them, pet them, play with them, and clean up after them, but they love us even if we don’t put their dinner down on time or take an extra day to clean the litter.
Eat leftover cold pizza for breakfast? Didn’t make the bed or do the dishes? Sit around all Saturday in your pajamas to watching Football instead of mowing the lawn? Leave the capoff the toothpaste? Your animals won’t give you a dirty look. They’re just happy you’re around!
Why We Love Dogs More Than Humans
Why We Love Dogs More Than Humans – Some dog owners love their four-legged friends so much that they treat them like they would a child — and sometimes even say they prefer them to some friends and family.