What if a human and a dog stood side-by-side and both needed help, but you could only choose one. It wouldn’t be an easy decision, would it?
The bond between human and dog is an incredible thing. It’s amazing to see what people will do for their beloved dogs, whether it’s throwing them an extravagant birthday party or making sure they only eat the highest quality kibble.
Some studies reveal when it comes to feeling empathy, many people pick pooches over other people. Does that surprise you?
Now, research from Northeastern University in Boston suggests that the human-canine bond trumps almost all other relationships.
For their study, Northeastern professors Jack Levin and Arnold Arluke set out to find out just how strongly we feel about dogs compared to adults and children.
The co-authors gathered 240 men and women between the ages of 18 and 25 and measured their levels of empathy when told about the suffering of a dog, compared to the suffering of a child or adult.
Unsurprisingly, stories of a dog’s suffering and a child’s suffering elicited the strongest responses from participants, whereas stories of adult victims made the respondents “significantly less distressed.”
Move on to the next page to learn more about this fascinating study on human empathy, and make sure to SHARE it with your dog-loving friends!
Janet Lindsay
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I love dogs more then people!
John Martinez
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Exactly!!!!
Carol Ruby
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Wonder why……
Matt Giberson
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Humans suck, that’s why
Roisin Nisheanain
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Dogs are loyal, whats not to love!!
Ed Bob
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Sounds about right.
Arvid A. Lakeberg
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Dig that! They never let me down, nor do I let them down!
Cindi Scott
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Maybe those humans need more dog like qualities??
Snezana Vidic
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I know I love my dogs more than I do most humans !!
Christopher J Green
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I completely agree. Haha
Robin Miller
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Because dogs show compassion and respect
Sandra Erickson
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Unconditional love from your pet, which is a reflection of you, is pretty dang strong.
Jan Palmer
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I loved my dogs, grieved when they passed, but not as I have when a human being died.
Yvonne Hernandez Morrow
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Of course! Look at the way humans act!
Starry Russel
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Been trying to tell people this for 20 years !!!!!!
Pam O'neill
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Me too, their love is unconditional, they don’t backstab$#%&!@*or argue. Give me a dog any day .
Jorge Jose Neves
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As someone famous already said, the more I know people the more I love my Cocker Spaniels
Debra Anne Lefferts
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Me too. But also love my csts
Debra Anne Lefferts
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CATS
Ron Bishop
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That’s a no brainer
Marjorie Ann Lulay
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Simply put, humans are untrustworthy!
John Moco
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Well, dugh…
Angela Caruso Sedore
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Dogs don’t lie to you, they don’t cheat on you, they love you unconditionally. So yes, humans love dogs more then other humans.
Thaddeus Kaczor
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I trust my dog and love him more than most people I know and if my dog doesn’t like someone I have learned there is a reason for that!
Kathryn Kahn
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I choose dogs! I like my people too, but my dog is #1.
Mary VandenBergh
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Not a surprise.
Wendy Connerley-Sontag
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I love my dogs more than I like most humans!
Tonya Martina Müller
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Accurate.
Janet K Poludniak
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They sure make up a lot easier at times.
Billy Schank
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True !!!!
Anna Gartin
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yup
Linda Holcomb
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Sure do
Lynn Moss Kohlhepp
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DUH. I sure do
Janet K Poludniak
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I can sure relate to that. This is the man of my life. At the moment he sound asleep cuddled up against my leg. Doesn’t get much better than that. And I don’t have to wash his dirty clothes or pick up after him.
Pam Brady
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I believe that and can understand why.
Frank Ryan
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I know I do
Johnny Taylor
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Guarantee I do
Jorge Jose Neves
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Beautiful boy! And he looks so much like my girl! 🙂
Stephen Clapp
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Sometimes
Mike York
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I PICK DOG,S …
Cecelia Henderson
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Very few people love me more than my dog. I’m old and most of my loved ones are gone. My sweet dog loves me unconditionally and the feeling is mutual.
Patrick Scott McGlone
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Well,I’ve never had a dog stick a gun in my face or judge me for whom I voted for.
So…yeah….
Tracy Michele
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Yep❤️
Janet K Poludniak
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Maybe they should have a playdate. Is that crazy about the people that he sees, except for the few he’s gotten to know, but I tell you he loves other puppy dogs. His tail looks like a windmill when another dog approaches. She’s beautiful. Where did she come from?
Rob Clyde
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That isnt news
Sally Matassa
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Maybe that’s because of their unconditional love back
Anna Holt
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My boxer loves me unconditionally. He’s a loyal protector and will never betray me.
John Hoogerhyde
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Why question that when the spotlight needs to be on people that abuse people and animals and the people that let people get away with it!
Cary Simpson
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They had to do a study for this?
Zvia Bina Ya'akovster
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DOGS RULE!!!!!!!