Of all the other animals on this planet, I think that the dog is humankind's closest companion

[MrScorpio]

I'm sure that all of you cat people out there would disagree. But bear with me, if you will.

From what I can see it's the dog which has helped humanity prosper on this planet more than any other animal… EVER!

They have been our guards and helpmates, our finders and gatherers, our friends and companions, our warm shoulders to lean on, our confidantes and our family members.

Compassionate, friendly, fiercely loyal, trusting and self-sacrificing, what can be better than a dog?

Well, other than more dogs of course.


May they always be our friends.

[Taverner]

1. And through artificial selection we created the modern dog

[MrScorpio]

2. The Dog is as much of us as we are of the Dog

Inextricably linked.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

20. My boyfriend just spent a week in the hospital (major surgery) and had service...

... dogs visit every evening. It was the highlight of his days spent there. Well, except for me visiting.

It was the next best thing to having our pooch visit. I wanted to sneak our girl in in a baby carriage.


Jake the 100 pound Shepherd (my phone camera ain't no good):

[MrScorpio]

23. Shepherds are my favorite dogs nt

[patricia92243]

33. This one made me tear up

[arcane1]

3. Dogs have nothing compared to Mitochondria

[hobbit709]

4. Have you had one come up and lick your face recently?

[RebelOne]

6. Yes, my Chihuahua. She is constantly kissing me on the face.

She thinks I am her momma since I have had her since she was 6 weeks old.

[MrScorpio]

8. Let's see Mitochondria try this:

How to Properly Hug a Baby

[Mr.Bill]

5. Is there any other animal on the planet that prefers

our company over that of their own species?

[MrScorpio]

7. I seriously doubt that there is

[Nuclear Unicorn]

24. "Outside of a dog a book is man's best friend.

"Inside of a dog it's too dark to read." -- Groucho Marx

[Arugula Latte]

9. Kitties are much cuter though.

[MrScorpio]

10. Uh-Huh.

[Arugula Latte]

11. A purr beats a bark any day!

[Gorp]

12. No argument. Dogs serve us selflessly (is that a word?) and do it for, well, dog food.

Cats are great companions, but we're they're servants, not their masters. Dogs protect us, comfort us, and poop in the wrong parts of the lawn. Cat's barf up hairballs in the wrong part of the house. Then there are hamsters who chew up toilet paper tubes, eat too much, and crap everywhere when they are out for playtime. They're all cute, but they each have their own style.

[ConcernedCanuk]

14. Naww - what about mosquitos and blackflies??

.
.
.

Oh

you meant most WELCOME companion

right??

[In_The_Wind]

15. lol

[img][/img]

[mokawanis]

16. According to Groucho

Oustide of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.

[nolabear]

17. Dogs seem to have goodness filters. They see us at our absolute best

even when we aren't putting that part forward. If only we could see ourselves as they see us.

[MrScorpio]

18. Yes they do…

[Loryn]

32. This is just

Wonderful! Made my day.

[Honeycombe8]

39. That is hilarious!!!! Thanks for that...and it's gonna get shared, for sure! nt

[Honeycombe8]

19. Scientifically (or is that anthropologically?), that is true. The dog and human have had a special

relationship for many thousands of years.

Cats have had a special relationship, too, but different. And they were domesticated later.

[Xipe Totec]

21. I think lice are closer

or crabs...

[u4ic]

22. I'd respectfully argue the horse has helped humanity 'prosper' far more than dogs have

[MrScorpio]

25. Alright, you're free to try and convince me

State your case.

[Orsino]

35. You don't conquer nations on dogback.

Dogs help us in smaller ways. But throughout history, a people with horses wind up ruling those without.

Now, as for prospering spiritually, I'm on Team Dog.

[Honeycombe8]

40. But the OP didn't say dogs helped us prosper the most, of all animals. He said we share

the closest bond.

We humans are close to all sorts of animals (pigs, horses, dogs, cats, hamsters, lizards, rabbits, goats, etc.). But the dog has a special bond with humans, don't you think? Not that other animals don't also have bonds with humans.

As far as working animals, the horse is way up there for helping us conquer other nations, that's for sure.

[Orsino]

41. Check again. n/t

[u4ic]

37. Off the top of my head

-Our main source of transport - horses were domesticated 6000 yrs ago. They transported us across towns, countries, continents, provided us with swiftness so we could hunt other, quicker animals. They have been ridden, pulled our wagons, carriages, stagecoaches, cabs, early fire trucks...carried us into war.
-They have been essential in building our agricultural society. They have plowed many a field.
-Fed us. Mare's milk is an important part of the diet in a few Asian and Baltic countries. While I couldn't eat it, some countries do eat horse meat.
-Policing. Many forces still use horses for certain areas and in certain situations.
-Therapeutic riding for those with disabilities. It helps motor skills and co-ordination on a physical level (the specific movement of the horse stimulates areas of the brain), and gives PWD a sense of companionship/connection, accomplishment, and indepedence.
-For those who do ride now as a hobby, they teach us teamwork (you have to learn their language, plus they are much bigger than you with the potential for us to get hurt if we don't understand their cues), patience, responsibility and care (they are high maintenance animals - you need to understand their psychology, diet, anatomy, illnesses, injuries) great companionship, perhaps the ability to show which broadens into understanding your discipline even more (dressage, jumping - it's not the horse doing all the work, it's the rider telling the horse).
-Some prisons are finding horse therapy very effective. Here's a bit of info: http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/prison-programs-provide-second-chances-inmates-and-horses

[NoGOPZone]

26. At minimum, a long and successful partnership

they were domesticated thousands of years before any other species.

[tblue]

27. I am passionate about doggies.

Love them so. Nothing is better than a friendly doggie.

[Benton D Struckcheon]

28. I still cry when I see this...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2029688/Navy-SEAL-Jon-Tumilsons-dog-sits-coffin-funeral.html

Truly heartbreaking. Nothing beats a dog's unconditional love. Except of course that of your child.

[UTUSN]

29. *now* you went and did it *sniff*!1 n/t

[clarice]

30. They also taste good with fava beans and a nice chianti. nt

[a la izquierda]

31. My dogs are my favorite companions...

I truly miss them when I travel. My husband will put me on speaker, and the dogs go bananas when they hear my voice.

[Rhiannon12866]

34. My dog and I agree... :)

[2theleft]

36. An average dog is better than most people

hands down.

NOTHING better than the pure devotion of a pup.

[ConcernedCanuk]

38. No arguement with that

.
.
.

And when you ponder it, no critter in this World is more spiteful than some of our own species

sad

but true methinks . .