Turns out our dogs kind of are our 'babies': study

[DainBramaged]

We give them cookies and beds and dress them in clothing. They love their toys, their play time plus cuddling with "mom" and "dad" - and it's no wonder: Our dogs react to us in a manner that eerily mimics how human children respond to their parents, a new study has found.

Similar behaviors between our pooches and our tots (and us) is rooted in a type of bonding that happens when hounds or kids consider their protectors to be a "secure base," a living anchor that injects them with confidence, comfort and safety, according to research published in the journal PLoS ONE.

"One of the things that really surprised us is that adult dogs behave towards their caregivers like human children do," said Lisa Horn, of the Vetmeduni's Messerli Research Institute in Vienna and the author of the report


Horn used three experiments to explore whether K9s tend to - like children - thrive due to the so-called "secure base effect" that's typically found in the tight emotional ties between parents and their children.


Her dog test subjects - which were allowed to earn food rewards by manipulating interactive toys - were placed in situations in which there was an "absent owner," a "silent owner," and an "encouraging owner". She found that the animals seemed much less interested in working for the treats when their caregivers were not present versus when they were in the room. But whether the dog's owner additionally encouraged the dog during the task or remained silent had little influence on the animal's level of motivation.


http://www.today.com/health/turns-out-our-dogs-kind-are-our-babies-study-6C10435423

[ZombieHorde]

1. I love dogs, but they're not like human children.

Talk with someone who's dog died six months after death, and then talk to someone who's human child died six months after death. There's no comparison.

[Curmudgeoness]

2. The article was really talking more about

how dogs mimic human children in the ways that they act, not so much how the human parents feel about the dogs. There is a difference. The study did not show that humans felt the same towards there dogs as they do toward their children, only that they dogs acted in a way that was similar to how children act.

Don't go trying to upset the dog crowd.

[ZombieHorde]

3. I am a part of the dog crowd. nt

[Curmudgeoness]

4. Oops.

Actually, you were right about your statement, it just wasn't what the study was saying.

Personally, I am a part of the cat crowd.

And speaking of the cat crowd, it is feeding time, and I am getting WAY too much loving for my liking. Fur in my mouth and up my nose from face rubs. Gotta go.

[ZombieHorde]

5. Ha!

Most cats love me. They often following me around when I'm outside, but I am very allergic to them. I plan on getting shots that remove or greatly diminish my allergies so I can interact with them.

[sinkingfeeling]

7. Really? My beloved little dog died exactly 9 years ago on June 29. I begin each

June with a terrible dread and as each day passes from June 16 until the 29th, I recall every single detail of his swift and fatal illness. I spent most of yesterday, sitting at my desk, crying softly as I will today.

My sweet Dinks has been gone longer than I had him, but not a day goes by without me 'speaking' to him. Don't tell me my grief ended 6 months after he died. I will carry my beloved 'babies' in my heart and soul until the day I die.

[Walk away]

8. Same here. Different people love in different ways...

Last edited Wed Jun 26, 2013, 11:41 AM - Edit history (1)

Some of us are capable of giving our whole heart to our pets as well as our people.

[ZombieHorde]

9. OK. nt

[Myrina]

10. Disagree.

Sorry. I still cry 2 YEARS after my Bubba left me. He was a rescue who, over time, developed canine senile dementia.
Caring for him WAS like caring for a child, and his dependence on me became very much that of a child/parent.

My bond with my every one of my dogs is arguably stronger than my bond with my 22 year old daughter.

[OnyxCollie]

6. Dogs feel more secure in a pack.

As such, they would be more likely to comply when they feel secure.

It assumes the other members of the pack are more powerful, however.

Dogs with weak owners make their own decisions, usually bad ones.

[orleans]

11. my little doll baby died today. i am heartbroken.

[Behind the Aegis]

12. I am so sorry to hear it.

[orleans]

14. thank you... n/t

[DainBramaged]

13. My friend, I am so so so sorry

I have no words of comfort that woud help haveing been there so so so so many times before. Know they will always be there know they will be waiting.

[orleans]

15. thank you and yes...i know...but still it is little comfort to me

i want her back in the NOW
i just want her back...
don't know what the fuck i'm going to do without her...
there has been so much sadness in my family for the last three and a half years--i'm so ...? i don't know. tired i guess. tired of saying goodbye.

[DainBramaged]

16. ......