Posted on 12/23/2015 11:27:24 AM PST by goldstategop
Dogs can copy each other's expressions in a split-second just like people, showing signs of basic empathy, according to Italian researchers.
Mimicking each other's facial expressions is a human habit, which helps people to get along.
Dogs do the same to bond with other dogs, scientists report in the journal, Royal Society Open Science.
They think dogs may be showing a basic built-in form of empathy, enabling them to pick up on emotions.
And the phenomenon may have emerged in our canine companions during the process of domestication, say scientists from the Natural History Museum, University of Pisa.
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.com ...
Dogs have evolved with a basic sense of empathy. This is true as every dog owner involved in a mishap knows, their dog understands your pain and wants to make everything right.
Dogs are known for their intelligence; science is showing us their emotional life needs to be appreciated, too.
And we come to better understand why the dog is regarded as "man's best friend."
When I’m stressed, my dog gets stressed. When I bang something my do knows I’m mad. I think its the smell. We give off scents with emotional reactions. Hence, PTSD dogs, cancer dogs, epilepsy dogs, diabetic dogs. If only we could do the same for them.
I came down with a massive dose of food poisoning last night after an office Xmas party.
After I was done evacuating my innards in the bathroom, I curled up miserable under the blankets - and Fergus the Wonder Puppy was right there to keep me company.
He knew the old man was not up to snuff...
Was there ever any doubt that dogs and people have a very complex bond? I can’t imagine life without man’s best friend.
Or woman’s best friend...
Oh,goodness! Hope you are feeling better. I am glad Fergus was there for you.
I think these guys at Pisa broke a lot of ground on the concept of mirror neurons. These allow us to mimic what others are doing, and has a great deal to do with our ability to learn from each other. In the earlier research, it was frequently claimed that only Man and the great apes had this to any great extent. I’ve always kind of doubted that, because how else do animals, especially social animals, learn anything?
The day my husband died, my Yorkie sat in my chair with me and would not leave me. That Yorkie lived 16 years.
Today, if I cry, the Yorkie I have now insists on licking the tears so that tends to make me quit crying. She is a guard dog, goes nuts barking if someone comes to the door.
The expression “man’s best friend” means “human’s best friend”, so it applies to both male and female.
My female doxie gets in my male doxie’s face when she hears me get on to him for something. He has never done that when I have to get on her.
Thanks for the ping.
Yes, I am aware of that.
It would have been more correct to say “this woman’s”.
Believe me, it was not an attempt to hoist the feminist placard. Truthfully, there are times I think it was a shame that women got the vote based on the voting choices of otherwise bright women. And there are times when I think that only property owners or taxpayers should vote.
Oh, okay, got it.
And I am inclined to agree with you on your other points.
Thank you for sharing your heart-warm experience. My husband currently works out of state. He is home for only one month out of the year.
Our two Shiloh Shepherds keep our less than desirable neighbors away. Our neighborhood has deteriorated since we purchased and having the two big boys has been a blessing as a first line of deterrence and protection.
And when we lost her sister and brother, our now 15 yr old Tara was a comfort. Even now, she will come over and put her head on my lap if I mention them. Merry Christmas to you and your Yorkie!
Thank you for sharing your heart-warm experience. My husband currently works out of state. He is home for only one month out of the year.
Our two Shiloh Shepherds keep our less than desirable neighbors away. Our neighborhood has deteriorated since we purchased and having the two big boys has been a blessing as a first line of deterrence and protection.
And when we lost her sister and brother, our now 15 yr old Tara was a comfort. Even now, she will come over and put her head on my lap if I mention them. Merry Christmas to you and your Yorkie!
Eeeyup! Sad to say....
Note: this topic is from 12/23/2015. Thanks goldstategop.
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