pilleybianchi

Wow, clearly your dogs behavior had some degree of thought! I've witness this too. I would hesitate to call it "spite" but dogs definitely have a wide array of emotions and research indicates that they understand equity...... So, I would say the proof is in the poop!

Thanks for this question. Dogs are the only species on the planet that has a shared an evolutionary path with us for 40,000 years. Dogs are very in tune with our emotions and vibes, and they definitely a wide a range of emotions similar to ours. They are our equals. We have chosen to bring them into our homes, so they are deserving of our respect, love and care. Obviously you have a pup that you reading properly - so please feel free to continue to anthropomorphise!

Wow, out of the gate - this is a great question. I believe in many cases that affection takes time. Chaser was not a touchy-feely dog and was into cuddles on HER time, not ours. So when you are loving on your pup, pay attention to their body language and see if it's reciprocal. But keep that door open!

Like my great grandmother used to say "When you bring a dog into your home, one day you will get a broken heart, they don't live forever."

Grief is big one and we highlight this in my book. Dogs live short, beautiful lives giving us ample opportunity to experience the purest forms of love and loss. This is a gift and love is always worth the risk.

What a great question - it really does depend on the dog and your kids. Some dogs are super friendly and others don't care for kids. Chaser LOVED children because they were the best playmates. There are advantages to puppies vs rescues. But it really depends on your kids and the individual dog. I believe it's always great to grow up around animals. It teaches us empathy and responsibility.