You know what I love about dogs?

[MrScorpio]

They hate it when people fight.

Let's see a cat do that

[Prisoner_Number_Six]

1. The only way to keep 'em happy is to

not fight.

Pretty simple in the end.

[kittenpants]

2. My dog hates it when I hug my husband too.

[redacted]

3. Our dogs run if the word Bush is mentioned -- too much tension for

them there.

[MrScorpio]

6. They can hear it in your voice

Dogs are extremely perceptive to humans.

They know us more than we know ourselves

[kittenpants]

7. but do they know themselves as well as we know them?

I don't think my dog is very self-aware, but that's one of the reasons I love her.

[MrScorpio]

8. Dogs are some of the most selfless creatures on the planet

Another reason to love them

[BrklynLiberal]

10. Absolutely true. Also, if my dog does not like someone..l think twice

about trusting them.

[chookie]

12. a tangential anecdote

Yes -- dogs are extremely attuned to human communication.

So are human beings who are supposedly "impaired" cognitively. Oliver Sacks tells a story about how a debate (presidential I think) was shown in a ward in a hospital where autistic and other patients were. The sound was off, but the patients watched the video -- and HOWLED with laughter! The ward was ROTFLAO. Sacks asked them what was so funny, and some answered that the (politicians) were making funny faces and were getting everything wrong! Sacks interpreted this as their ability to read GENUINE human facial expressions and body postures, and seeing before them a grotesque caricature of sincerity and gravity.

I wonder what the same ward would have made of Bush -- especially during the scripted "debates" with Kerry.

I see the same things in Bush as they see -- and also have the critical faculties to know that his facts are fabricated as well as poorly delivered -- trouble is, it's not time to laugh yet. I hope some day I can laugh and laugh and laugh at Bush wackiness. I think that will only happen if we keep these madmen from leading us into the historical abyss of our time -- otherwise, we will never be able to give way to the relaxation of pure mirth.

[BikeWriter]

4. Dogs are good people.

[evlbstrd]

5. They have zero self esteem.

Man, all that grovelling and whining...
BTW, I love my dog.

[uppityperson]

11. My dog has to Get There First, no matter where "there" is

If I stand up he has to go first, even if I go nowhere. If I walk outside he has to get there first, even if I go the other way. Then he has to run back fast to get there first. If he is not involved in Getting There First he is laying between me and the door, closer to me usually, so in case I stand up I will trip over him, giving enough time to get there first.

And he breaks up hissyfits between my cats. He does not like them hissing. He starts whining if 2 of them are in the same room, even if they are not hissing. And he makes the deer leave the yard. He is a good doofus dog. I love my dog too.

[evlbstrd]

15. That's so funny!

Getting There First.

My dog sings for attention. And just wants to be enough ahead to slow you down.

[Ksec]

9. Thats true. They are very perceptive

I have a Border Collie who scares me sometimes. He has an uncanny ability to sense change or an approaching visitor. Ive owned dogs all my life but this border is one of a kind . Ive never had a dog that had half the intelligence of this one. He understands hundreds of words. Really hes one for Ripleys/

[ghostsofgiants]

13. Border collies are amazing dogs

I had one up until maybe a year and a half ago. Had to give him away before I moved away to university because noobody else had time to take care of him.

[chookie]

14. A game to play with your dog

Queen Marigold listens to EVERYTHING I say, even in my most droning arcane wonk monologues.

So I started playing a game with her. While discussing a political issue, for example, I would say the word "Cheese" -- and would see her visibly reacting. She politely listened to me contrast Bush and Kerry, but REALLY took notice when I discussed their differing policies on "treats". She is not concerned about the probably fabricated reports of official Syrian involvement in terror attacks in Iraq, but if I report that Cheney thinks they're shipping "hot dogs" across the border -- well, now that's something important.

try it. it's a great game for your dog and you to play together.

[alphafemale]

16. Depends on the cat.

Current feline companion has showed a time or two a very protective attitude toward family members when voices are raised.

-such as when my kids have friends over and there's a minor dispute with voices raised.

Tellin ya' - Fur Girlfriend has this thing where she furs up and runs TOWARD the sound of disputes SIDEWAYS.

Had another cat when I was about 12 that joined in a dispute with my dog and the neighbor dog that outweighed him by a factor of three.

Cat dropped down out of a tree onto the bigger dog's back and "Latched on with claw and jaw." Funny.

They were both Gray tabbies. Don't know if that's relevant.