Dogs Can Protect You Cats are more likely to run and hide when faced with trouble. On the other hand, most dogs will instinctively protect their owners and their territory. They'll bark or growl to alert you to the presence of strangers, and many will even scare off intruders.
Protective
Dogs have been guard animals for centuries, and their keen sense of smell and hearing make them ideal for the job. They are also much more intimidating than cats, making them an excellent deterrent for would-be burglars and intruders.
Zak studied 10 cats and 10 dogs to see how much affection they had for their humans, and it turns out dogs love their owners almost five times more than cats do, according to the Huffington Post.
Cats are very territorial, much more so than dogs. Territorial aggression occurs when a cat feels that his territory has been invaded by an intruder. Depending on where your cat spends his time, he may view your whole neighborhood as his territory. Female cats can be just as territorial as males.
Although dogs are extremely loyal, part of that loyalty comes from a self-preservation instinct, as they know that if their owner is hurt, their food and shelter arrangements are at risk. If you own a dog that comes from an abusive background, you may notice that he is extra protective.
Answer: It highly depends on the individual case. Compared with the untrained dogs, trained dogs tend to protect their owners if attacked. But it doesn't necessarily meant that a normal family pet dog would do nothing when a break-in happens. Some of family dogs would also try their best to defend their owners.
Studies have shown that dogs are typically clingier than cats; however, recent research has shown that clingy cats, or cats that suffer from separation anxiety, is a genuine concern.
Mammals release oxytocin when they feel love or affection for someone or something, and according to a recent study, dogs produce five times as much of this hormone upon seeing their human than cats do. Dogs are naturally very sociable creatures – and they have their wolf ancestors to thank for that.
Cats are famously temperamental and are generally considered to be less loyal and social than dogs. But recent research suggests that cats actually have similar levels of attachment to their human caregivers as dogs and infants.
Dog owners averaged a significantly higher happiness score when compared to their feline counterparts. Compared to cat owners, dog owners are 5% happier than cat owners.
In some cases, the depth of feeling for their chosen species can be quite intense. However, according to an Associated Press-Petside.com poll, there are a lot more dog people out there, since 74 percent of their test sample like dogs a lot, and only 41 percent like cats a lot.
Dog owners, for instance, are more likely to seek comfort from their pet in times of stress, more likely to play with their pet, and more likely to consider their pet a member of their family. Those differences suggest a stronger social bond with their pets, which could create a greater sense of well-being.
Dogs have a stronger sense of empathy: Research has shown that dogs can read human emotions better than cats. They can sense when their owners are upset or in distress and are more likely to offer comfort or try to alleviate their pain.
Overall, more emotions were reported in dogs compared to cats, both from owners that owned just one species and those that owned both.
They can offer their owners solace, companionship, security, and their presence can be a source of emotional support. Cats may also demonstrate their allegiance to their owners by acting in a protective manner, such as by keeping a close eye on them or even defending them in times of need.
But what was surprising about the study was just how much more prevalent those bonds are. Researchers found that cats may bond with humans more than dogs and about as much as infants do.
Is a Dog More Protective of Female Keepers? This isn't a general rule, but some pets are more likely to exhibit protective behavior with female keepers. This is because women generally have a softer voice and are gentler whenever they care for the dog.
A dog's number one priority at bedtime is comfort and security. So, if they're choosing to sleep in the same space as you, it's a big sign that they trust you. "Sleeping with the owner in the same room helps minimize fear, anxiety and stress," said Christman.
As social animals, dogs choose the person or people who give them plenty of love, attention, and positive experiences. Let your dog be a dog and enjoy hanging out with and being in that person's presence, whether it's you or someone else. But don't give up on being one of the favorites!
Many dogs will bark if they sense some type of threat, proclaiming "I'm here protecting this place so don't mess with me." The sound of this bark is usually sharp, loud and authoritative. Honing this instinct with training can actually help protect your home and family.
It is unlikely that a family dog that has not been trained specifically in guard work will protect you from an intruder. They will bark, growl, or may even have their fur raised, but biting is unlikely. This, however, is again dependent upon breed and bloodline.
"Research shows that 'occupancy cues' like dogs are major deterrents in attempts to burglarize homes," says K. Campbell, a certified protection professional. "In fact, the research reveals that dogs of any size are effective. Large dogs pose a physical threat, and small dogs tend to be noisy."
Hoy-Gerlach pointed out that people with cats experienced a greater decrease in their depression scores. “This new study highlights the therapeutic potential of cat companionship for human well-being.