Dear Ricardo:

Having had dogs and cats since I was little, I have seen that these animals develop routines for most activities. They have a "rustic" manner of communicating with us to convey what they like and what they do not. These routines propose a world based on repetition, on doing the same every day when going out on a chain for a walk or having food served and eaten. They fear pain and like to be cuddled, maybe like babies do. But "morality" is something else: it includes a way of doing things that carry a  strong sense of the right and the wrong, in terms of the proper or the improper. Our manner of experiencing society and participating in it carries a heavy undertone of wishing to belong, physically AND symbolically, that is, in a direct and an indirect manner, the indirect being a behavior suggested by symbols and metaphors, whose complexity is not seen in the behavior of animals like dogs and cats. The way we choose our clothes for this or that activity or situation is symbolic, whereas when a dog is chilly it looks for anything that will keep it warm or has the right "smell".

Morality is organized behavior and language fit for the occasion, and human occasions go beyond sleeping, eating, and coupling. Let's not call animal behavior "moral". That is what Walt Disney did for decades with his Mickey Mouse. In fact, that is what medieval bestiaries do: using illustrations of certain animals and some animal conduct as symbols of the wrong human behavior. To behave like an animal is to fall outside the human. Below I have linked an image of the partridge, and its allegorical (human) meaning. Medieval bestiaries are quite fun. But they are not about animals, but about human behavior.

Best regards, Lilliana

http://bestiary.ca/beasts/beast247.htm

I won't say yes or no but I know dogs are known to Man's best friend when it comes to animals

Morality in people is not very well defined. I know that dogs can interact with people in harmonious ways.

Dear Ricardo:

Having had dogs and cats since I was little, I have seen that these animals develop routines for most activities. They have a "rustic" manner of communicating with us to convey what they like and what they do not. These routines propose a world based on repetition, on doing the same every day when going out on a chain for a walk or having food served and eaten. They fear pain and like to be cuddled, maybe like babies do. But "morality" is something else: it includes a way of doing things that carry a  strong sense of the right and the wrong, in terms of the proper or the improper. Our manner of experiencing society and participating in it carries a heavy undertone of wishing to belong, physically AND symbolically, that is, in a direct and an indirect manner, the indirect being a behavior suggested by symbols and metaphors, whose complexity is not seen in the behavior of animals like dogs and cats. The way we choose our clothes for this or that activity or situation is symbolic, whereas when a dog is chilly it looks for anything that will keep it warm or has the right "smell".

Morality is organized behavior and language fit for the occasion, and human occasions go beyond sleeping, eating, and coupling. Let's not call animal behavior "moral". That is what Walt Disney did for decades with his Mickey Mouse. In fact, that is what medieval bestiaries do: using illustrations of certain animals and some animal conduct as symbols of the wrong human behavior. To behave like an animal is to fall outside the human. Below I have linked an image of the partridge, and its allegorical (human) meaning. Medieval bestiaries are quite fun. But they are not about animals, but about human behavior.

Best regards, Lilliana

http://bestiary.ca/beasts/beast247.htm

The story of a real Akita dog "Hachikō" (see the link below) is famous in Japan, and it makes us believe that domestic dogs have a kind of morality.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hachikō

Dear Ricardo De la Peña,

If we treat them with respect then only we may think of compassing moral. We must differentiate between a pet's loyalty and morality. In case of animals loyalty is measurable in rubric forms but it is hard and complex issue of judging and measuring moral levels of animals. 

I have three dogs. I have been searching for the best way to tell them they are not human beings. If consider their example, I would say eyes.

There is a morality in the minds of domestic dogs?

Not sure our human's standard of morality applicable to dog's morality level or animals might have their own defined morality level.  E.g. some of us might observe how a female dog mating with its male offspring in order to produce further offspring.  In human eyes this is considered as incest, but not sure this is acceptable among dogs or in animal kingdom.

It is all in  your mind, Vilemar. What I like about my pets is precisely what you like: they obey only me because I feed them and give them a warm place to live, and a nice daily routine. They recognize me, they even wait for me by the door. But from my friends I ask much more, more than what I ask from my pets. It always worries me how less we are loving humanity. I know so many people that rescue dogs all day every day, but will not help their neighbors in time of need. 

Sorry, I do not agree with you at all. And I still love my pets very much. Meet my cat Cuquero taking some sun in the morning. Meet Pachanga, my beautiful mongrel dog. :-)

Best regards, Lilliana

Yes!!!, Surely!!!

They just need your attention and warmth. They do not ask for food and luxury. They will always remain obedient- a quality which is becoming uncommon in human beings. What else we want? They can sense their master even if he/she is little distant away.

Dear Jayaram: I do not quite enjoy being "the master". I'm afraid that comes with a necessary "slave". I play with my pets while they want to play. And stay quiet with them when they want to rest. I do not drive them too hard when we stroll, nor bathe them if they are too cold. They are company, and in many ways, equal in physical terms, like I never push them hard to do things they rather not do. I am seldom "the master" so they are seldom "my slaves".

Best regards, Lilliana

A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself.

--- Josh Billings

Dear Ricardo De la Peña,

Pets really love their masters. That is the conclusion drawn by researchers after examining the so-called love hormone in animals.

During the experiments it was found that animals and humans release into the blood the same hormone that helps them to tie friendships. Experts say that there were literally shocked at the level of oxytocin, found in the body of animals that took part in the study.

US researchers analyzed blood samples terrier mixed breed, and goats, who were in regular contact with each other. Animals were running, jumping, catching up with each other in a friendly bite - in a word, play.

Regards, Shafagat

Dogs are famous for possessing traits that are analogous to (or the same as) virtues such as loyalty, compassion and courage.  Of course, Kant recognized these traits but still claimed that dogs could not make moral judgments. As he saw it, dogs are not rational beings and do not act in accord with the law. But, roughly put, they seem to have an ersatz sort of ethics in that they can act in ways analogous to human virtue. While Kant does make an interesting case, there do seem to be some reasons to accept that dogs can engage in basic moral judgments. Naturally, since dogs do not write treatises on moral philosophy, I can only speculate on what is occurring in their minds.

For more information, please refer to the following link

No doubt domestic dogs have morality, even street dogs have. I have observed if they are familiar by any means to any one, they do not bark.

Agree with Prof. Mushtaq's view, not only domestic dogs but also street dogs.

Dear All,

This is the field of an animal behaviourist at least if the answer should be approached objectively. If not it may be a forum of enthusiast pet fans. Or regarding the stories of Aesop and La Fontaine they can help us to be a better human = the moral animal:

http://www.taleswithmorals.com/

 http://www.la-fontaine-ch-thierry.net/fables.htm

http://rnawrocki.com/pdfs/Robert%20Wright%20-%20Moral%20Animal.pdf

'Did you notice the curious behaviour of dogs, Watson?"Watson replied: " Dogs did not do abything"

Holmes: That is Curious.

                  From Silver Blaze

The strategy of animals is indeed very interesting. Strategy and morality can be in some ways related.  I like watching sheep, the way they are thinking to get the most fresh grass. 

“The only creatures that are evolved enough to convey pure love are dogs and infants.”

—Johnny Depp

See role of dogs ....

Dear Ricardo !

I can't resist answering your question not with words, but with a singular image, that perfectly (speachlessly) reflects the utmost morality and human respect that a dog could have for a human being. In honour of my first best-friend Igor, here's my favorite picture from early childhood - Igor was a huge savage looking, fearless dog, that adopted me in my frale second year. Everybody disaprooved of my parents let me near the beast... But love and dog-moral respect prevailed peacefully. (Let no one approach me, while the huge creature was around. Beware! -

I learnt from that dog. I owe my present sense of justice, loyalty and intensity of friendship to the Education that dog transmited...

See ...

See ...