Morality in dogs? Morality Learned?

[Godscreated]

Domesticated dogs have retained their pack motivations and the hierarchy of the pack, probably more things also, but those two are what we as dog trainers key on.

Pretty much what I think too. I wonder if you would agree with me that dogs do feel genuine affection which goes beyond submission? Power based interactions are best understood as you say. But then I do think they have a range of feeling which greatly overlaps our own. They can feel anger and happy and silly and indignant and jealous as well as affection. They can also act heroically and altruistically in the purist, unselfconscious ways.

We are always cautioned against anthropomorphizing and I agree that we shouldn't assume too much. But I think Occam's razor actually cuts in favor of thinking that our emotions and feelings wouldn't be worlds apart from that of every other mammal which in turn is world's apart from that of every other species. Same with our taste sensations and color perception. Perhaps every animal has a unique taste and color experience but I seriously doubt it.

Yes I agree that dogs do connect emotionally with people, even to a greater degree than other animals. They understand we are not dogs, just as cats, cows, horses, pigs and ect. understand we are not of their species. I do believe that dogs can act heroically and unselfishly, but I believe this comes more from the pack mentality and enhanced by domestication. We need to remember those who came before us and domesticated the dog selected for these traits, thus we continue to enhance and strengthen pleasing traits in the dog. What I find most interesting about dogs is the variety and not just physically but mentally as well, I know of no other species that varies as much and yet can still breed.
You can't live with Rottweilers for 30 years and not be impressed at the human traits they seem to have, though I do believe we as humans tag dogs with more human traits than they actually have. I also believe that dogs are equally,if not more intelligent than apes. I say this only from what I've seen on programs about apes and their intelligence. I've seen the trainers of these apes actually use tricks that make the apes look smarter to those with untrained eye, I know this because I use them to impress people with my dogs. I've seen apes trained with supposed sign language, yet I've not seen one ape that could identify sign language as well as some of my Rotts. Also my Rotts learn English and German and so will start them on Dutch. Also my Rotts can do some commands from spelling, at this point it's very simple but soon I hope to expand this ability if possible. I guess you can see I enjoy exploring the abilities of a dog's brain.