Grad Research Assignment: Discussion ?s on Article

Article from Psychiatric Times.

1. What makes the human-companion animal bond so strong?
Perhaps it can never be pinpointed. But research shows that dog owners are as emotionally close to their dogs as to their closest family members. And in many cases, people were actually closer to their dogs than to any human family member. Perhaps it’s the unconditional love they give us. We provide the essentials they need to survive and in return we get loyal friendship and devotion.
In the wild, a dog's very survival depends on a strong, stable, and organized pack, where every member knows its place and follows the rules established by the pack leader. The pack instinct is perhaps the strongest natural motivator for a dog. As dog owners, we assume the role of pack leader by providing food, leading them on walks, and establishing the guidelines for appropriate behavior.


2. How did this kinship develop between humans and animals?
Perhaps because of our dependence upon domesticated animals, we developed a close bond with them. For thousands of years, people have been dependent upon dogs to perform specific functions such as herding, hunting, etc. In recent history, however, the role of dogs in our lives has changed from a utilitarian to an emotional one. Pet keeping has only become popular in the last one hundred years. Perhaps we engineered dogs to be our best friends, through years and years of aggressive eugenics. Some breeds were already known to be loyal hundreds of years ago but now that trait has been perfected in nearly every breed. Millions of people have discovered the joys and rewards of having pets in their lives.