Wendell's Diary

Many of us find ourselves telling our dogs, "I love you," even though they can't understand the words. While our dogs communicate their affection through actions like cuddling, licking, and excitement, the verbal expression of love plays a unique role in the human-animal bond. Here’s why saying "I love you" to your dog matters, even if they don’t grasp the literal meaning. ### **1. Emotional Connection** **Affirming Our Feelings**: When we say "I love you" to our dogs, we are verbalizing our emotions, which helps solidify and affirm the bond we feel with them. This verbal expression is a way for us to articulate and acknowledge the deep affection and attachment we have for our pets. **Human Need for Expression**: Humans naturally express emotions through language. Saying "I love you" fulfills our inherent need to communicate feelings verbally, even if the recipient doesn't understand the specific words. ### **2. Reinforcing the Bond** **T...

When I play with my dog, Sophia, I often find myself pondering a profound question: "Is it you? Is it you? Is it really you?" This playful inquiry stems from a deeper curiosity about her consciousness. Is she fully aware, or is she only partially there? Is her identity constant, or does it change over time? One of the most striking behaviors that prompts these questions is the way Sophia looks at me. Her gaze seems to ask, "Are you there with me, part of this moment?" This intense eye contact makes me wonder about her awareness and the depth of her consciousness. It's as if she's trying to communicate, but without the reasoning and language that humans possess. ### The Nature of Being "Fully There" To me, being "fully there" means having a consistent identity over time, an enduring sense of self. For humans, this involves complex reasoning and self-reflection. But what about dogs? They don't possess the same reasoning abilities, yet t...