Humans are the only species of animal life on the planet known for sure to feel hope and joy, because we are the only animals who can write and talk and sing about either.

I don’t know a responsible or ethical animal behaviorist who believes dogs have human emotions.

Many dog lovers are  happy to suspend their beliefs and rational thinking and disagree. People tell me all the time their dogs have the same emotions we do?

Why do they say that? Because they want and need to believe it. We get the dogs we need.

Behaviorists and biologists know better. Dogs do have emotions, but no ours.

Stanley Coren is a behaviorist and dog psychologist, and he believes that the human-like emotions many dogs do posses are hope and joy, two emotions humans have.

As as lover of border collies, and now, Boston Terriers, I agree with him. Both breeds show great evidence hope and joy A border collie never gives up hope to get to work, and he or she shows great joy when they are doing their work.

Boston Terriers are oddly similar, they are always hoping for treats, food, play, they are eager for all three until they pass out at the end of the day. No breed show more joy and hope than border collies do when somebody says “let’s go to work,” or “lets go the sheep.”

A border’s launch to work is very much alike a space capsule rocking off into space. Bud has a great joy of life – just toss a ball around the floor and you will see joy and hope fused together in one big burst of happiness.

I feel hope and joy every day of my life. I have never lost the capacity of either, I am proud to say.