If you live with a dog, you probably know when it is fun or sad, right? Of course you do. Even the scientific community admits that dogs have emotions - although scientists cannot directly know what dogs are going through. Humans have had a close bond with dogs for centuries. In 1764 Voltaire remarked: “It seems that nature gave the dog to man for his protection and for his pleasure. Of all the animals, she is the most devoted: she is the best friend that a person can have."
Research has shown time and time again the positive impact of a dog in life. A study of 975 dog owners found that during times of emotional distress, most people are more likely to look to their dogs than their mums, dads, brothers, best friends, or children.
A dog is man's best friend. Is man a friend to a dog?
Unsurprisingly, dogs are more commonly used for treatment than other animals. Our barking friends are increasingly becoming participants in various mental health programs - offering communication, happy associations, and selfless love.
In the UK, the Pets As Therapy (PAT) program has over 5,000 active dogs that meet 130,000 people a week. The United States also has a similar program that recognizes six national dog welfare organizations.
Dogs treat
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It is believed that dog therapy was first invented by accident by Sigmund Freud. During his psychotherapy sessions in the 1930s, Jofi's Chow was in his office. Freud noticed that patients felt more relaxed and more open in Jofi's presence, and he took this into account.
But the official start of animal therapy is usually associated with the Second World War, when a Yorkshire Terrier named Smokey accompanied Corporal William Lynn to service hospitals in New Guinea. The dog's presence lifted the spirits of the wounded soldiers.
Despite all this, it was not until the 1960s that the first documented cases of dogs working as medical assistants appeared. American psychotherapist Boris Levinson took his dog Jingles with him and added "a new dimension of child psychotherapy." Despite the indignation of colleagues, Levinson advocated the use of dogs for therapeutic purposes.
How dogs feel
Although dogs certainly understand us well, we do not always understand them. A classic example is when a small "incident" occurs in the house and dog owners think their pets feel guilty. But the dog thus expresses purely submission and, as it were, wants to say "don't hit me."
It is very difficult for a person to convince himself that the dog's brain does not understand the concepts of "good" and "bad" - and without this understanding it is impossible to feel guilty. A dog that looks guilty is simply afraid of your reaction to the situation, based solely on past experience.
Some of the main difficulties that persist between dogs and their owners stem from the inability of humans to read their pet's body language correctly. Combine this with the fact that humans believe dogs understand abstract concepts and can reason over complex logical chains, and there is a problem.
Hound hormones
Another way to understand how animals feel is to look at their hormonal environment. Studies have shown that when dogs are stroked by their owners, their oxytocin levels increase. Among other functions, this hormone is believed to help you relax. It helps to strengthen the bond between mother and baby - and between the pet and its owner.
So while we may not know exactly how a dog feels during enjoyable activities, it seems reasonable that oxytocin induces human-like sensations in dogs - suggesting that dogs feel affection and attraction towards their owners.
Likewise, dogs that are in unpleasant circumstances show increased levels of the stress hormone cortisol. One of the situations that triggers this stress response is prolonged loneliness. Dogs are herd instincts that need company. A lonely dog is rarely fun - and this should be considered by any dog owner planning their lives.
All indications are that dogs and humans are made to live and work together - and both sides of the equation will be happy. Therefore, understanding the emotional state of each of them is vital. Even if dogs and humans do not quite understand each other, it seems obvious that each of these species cannot live without the other, which means that we must help each other to be happier and healthier.
Ilya Khel
