Dogs' Love of Man Isn't Just a Con Job

Townhall.com ^ | September 22, 2017 | Jonah Goldberg

[ProtectOurFreedom]

Great essay by Mr. Goldberg. Thanks for posting this. Sent it to my vet tech daughter who has a WONDERFUL dog.

[SandRat]

we knew that

[Verginius Rufus]

Can it be proven that Neanderthals never domesticated dogs?

[Afterguard]

Lol! this may be the first time I’ve ever agreed with Goldberg.

[Paradox]

I think its safe to say that over the last 30K years or so, Man has co-evolved with Dogs. Its something of a symbiosis.

[pgkdan]

First thing worth reading from Jonah Goldberg in a year.

[CivilWarBrewing]

We have the BEST dog in the world. She is trained to go pee pee doo doo in her newspaper-lined potty tray in the house and she NEVER makes a mistake even when we are away. NEVER! Better success training a female to do this, because their aim is straight down, unlike a male.

Anyway, I STILL believe a dog's primary motive to 'love' is driven by them knowing WHO THEIR FOOD SOURCE IS. When we come home she is more interested in knowing WHETHER WE'VE BROUGHT FOOD than anything else. Love is secondary to that. A dog's love for its owner stems from us being the ones who feed them!

Survival. That's the bottom line for a dog.

[Constitution Day]

Great piece! Dogs rule.

[Fiddlstix]

[null and void]

Survival. That's the bottom line for a dog.

We have that in common with them...

[Enchante]

I don’t trust anyone who doesn’t like dogs, and I don’t trust anyone who provokes anxiety and hostility in dogs.

[Mase]

[DesertRhino]

If you are correct dogs would leave as soon as the food ran out, but they don’t instead they sit there right beside you and starve to death with you.
Only women see you as having value only if you provide.
Dogs are loyal.

[zeugma]

and I don’t trust anyone who provokes anxiety and hostility in dogs.

Some dogs are really good at ferreting out losers, even when the loser is trying to con the dog.

Cats are too for that matter, but it is much less demonstrative.

[Kaslin]

I am sorry but paper training is the worst thing you can do.

I had a dachshund many years ago, that my husband gave me the puppy a Christmas present. It took me until Moritz was 3 month old when he was totally house broken.

[CivilWarBrewing]

Most FReepers are not worried where their next meal is coming from. I think that with dogs this is a CONSTANT concern because of their inability to reflect on past patterns due to their primitive brain function. So, ‘EATING’ dominates a dog’s thoughts whereas we take it for granted. I believe a dog’s most prevailing thought is ‘EATING FOOD’!!!!

[Fiddlstix]

My dogs are the best friends I've ever had.
BTW. That's a lot of years & a lot of dogs

[RegulatorCountry]

The bond is far more than food, it’s almost telepathic, although most dogs are thrilled by treats and will search you for them when you come home, much like a small child expecting a present would.

[CivilWarBrewing]

My sister's dog died at age 23 and she has no idea how old she was when they got her.

Her other dog died at age 21, and also was a rescue dog so they have no idea how old he was when they got him.

I have no idea why my sister's dogs live so long. Lots of love, that's for sure.