Your Dog Feels as Guilty as She Looks

Animals have emotions.

I don't doubt that after nearly 50 years of having dogs.

BUT. And it's a huge 'but'. Animals don't attach the way humans do.

A dog (because that's what we're talking about) will attach itself to a human who has been kind to it. However, it will also attach to a human who is cruel, if that (fatherless) human has fed him & given him a place to sleep.

Dogs don't think the way we do. They don't reason between kindness & life-giving, until a 'life giver' takes over.

Does that make sense?

I have to disagree. When I met Buddy, the family who had him were caring about and for him (even if I suspected the husband may have beat him- not from a perspective of cruelty but from ignorance). I spent 90 minutes with Buddy, 20 of which he was stress barking and growling at me. He was ready to follow me home afterwards, without looking back. He was just stressed over the change in environment and the hissing cats... also, he was not used to pooping while on a leash.

Buddy adored my former partner, who arguably spent more time with him, but I was always his number one person. He always came to me when he needed something, even if it meant going out of his way. He always sought to cuddle me first. When my partner moved out, Buddy barely reacted and after he has been gone from the home, he acts about the same or less with him as he does with our dog sitters. Buddy chooses me. It was the same with my previous dog who lives with my ex-husband. He says he knows he is the top person for him, until Mommy enters the room. Then it is 110% Mommy. This is after he has had "sole" custody for 7 years and I have only had visits.

I am what is sometimes called a high sensitivity personality. I can tell from a blink when Buddy needs a poo or just wants attention or is feeling a need for a hug. I read the signals other miss. It's also a pain in the arse as I can misread some situations where I pick on vibes but interpret them wrongly- which never happens in animals! Hmmmmm! This works well in my chosen field as a preschool teacher and makes me popular with kids as they know I'm more perceptive and receptive to their needs. It's a little tiring for me as I have soon 39 children ages 1 to 6 to work with every day, but I do build stronger emotional bonds with these children and I think the same is true for my pets.

Animals (and people since we are just animals who make better tools) will go with the ones who help them survive but will always choose those who help them thrive. I can actually feel when Buddy is sad or needs more love and he knows it and shows me. Sometimes, like right now, I know he needs space. He spent the day with a dominant bully bitch who was a bully. I heard he avoided her all day and just sat on the couch and looked sad. He has been sleeping in my bed on my pillow since he ate dinner. We will have a walk soon.

Buddy knows how to ask for hugs too. He will get one later when he has destressed