Dogs have morals too

A new breed of animal behaviour scientists are breaking down old belief systems; that humans alone have morals, ethics and emotions, with the discovery that canines and other animals have rich emotional lives.

Marc Bekoff, a professor and animal behaviourist at the University of Colorado says a dog’s code of ethics is displayed daily in parks, backyards and family rooms. Bekoff has discovered that these things can be measured and has spent thousands of hours in the field observing coyotes, wolves and dogs. After analysing videotapes of the footage, Bekoff is convinced that many animals can tell right from wrong and possess empathy and compassion.

Whilst some behaviour experts still believe emotions and morality are strictly human traits, Bekoff says he is witnessing a turning of the tide with the amount of scepticism dramatically dropping.

In humans, the specific brain structures in which emotions are centred are also present in the brains of other mammals. The similarities don’t end there; the chemicals (called neurotransmitters) which affect these structures are the same in both human and mammalian brains.

Bekoff says dog’s display a range of emotions including; fairness in play, love of company and friends, jealousy, resentment, anxiety, fear, embarrassment, remorse, affection, compassion, grief and loss. Dogs are also thought to have a sense of humour because the same brain structures are active in laughing humans and dogs who are enjoying themselves.

Despite critics citing evidence as often anecdotal, Bekoff argues that thousands of anecdotes equal data.