# Who's a good boy? Yes, YOU are! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [April 29, 2020, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-a-good-boy-yes-you-are/852845 "2020-04-29T21:55:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-a-good-boy-yes-you-are/852845/1 "2020-04-29T21:55:10Z")
The headline pretty much says it all: [Genetics Research Explains Why Dogs Are Very Good Boys](https://getpocket.com/explore/item/genetics-research-explains-why-dogs-are-very-good-boys?utm_source=pocket-newtab) All I can say is that a lifetime of experience seems to back it up. In all seriousness, despite my snark about cats – and I know there are many cat lovers here – I’ve owned cats myself in my youth, loved them dearly, and was heartbroken when anything happened to them. But I maintain that dogs are a different and much deeper experience entirely. [I’ve cited this book before](https://www.amazon.com/Pack-Two-Intricate-Between-People/dp/0385317018). Just FYI. Read the article, maybe even read the book. Dogs are a treasure on this earth. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-a-good-boy-yes-you-are/852845/2 "2020-04-29T22:02:02Z")
Well sure, we only take care of cats to keep them from killing us. It’s not surprising that dogs are friendly for genetic reasons, we did breed them that way, but it looks like we reinforced existing mutations. The bit about coyotes not having the mutation is interesting, there was a case of a sick coyote came up to a person in New York who thought it was a sick dog, it acted tame and it was brought to a vet where it was properly identified. However, many eastern coyotes have interbred with domestic dogs so perhaps that makes a difference. ---
**Author:** ![MindsEye\_Watering](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mindseye_watering/32/3619_2.png) [@MindsEye\_Watering](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MindsEye_Watering)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-a-good-boy-yes-you-are/852845/3 "2020-04-29T22:53:12Z")
“Who’s a good boy?” **All dogs are boys, and all cats are girls.** That’s not true, but it ought to be. ---
**Author:** ![romansperson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/romansperson/32/17100_2.png) [@romansperson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/romansperson)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-a-good-boy-yes-you-are/852845/4 "2020-04-29T23:40:51Z")
> [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > “Who’s a good boy?” > > **All dogs are boys, and all cats are girls.** > > That’s not true, but it ought to be. When I was little, I believed this. I thought dogs and cats bred together, and that was the end result. Hey, I was five!! ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-a-good-boy-yes-you-are/852845/5 "2020-04-30T01:25:37Z")
> [@MindsEye\_Watering](#): > > “Who’s a good boy?” > > **All dogs are boys, and all cats are girls.** > > That’s not true, but it ought to be. I have a cousin (once removed) who actually believes this. She thinks that when they breed, the cat gives birth to mixed puppies and kittens. This cousin is not a little child. She’s in her 60s. ---
**Author:** ![Kzbre5m](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f08c70/32.png) [@Kzbre5m](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kzbre5m)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 8:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-a-good-boy-yes-you-are/852845/6 "2020-04-30T08:30:53Z")
Dogs are like four-year-olds – still needing help, wanting to learn and seek approval. Can be left alone for short moments. Cats are like teenagers – independent, moody, wanting food and if you don’t have it their choices are creative. ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 8:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-a-good-boy-yes-you-are/852845/7 "2020-04-30T08:52:33Z")
Domestic dogs also have extra muscles around their eyes that wolves don’t have, so that they can make puppy dog eyes at you. It works! ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-a-good-boy-yes-you-are/852845/8 "2020-04-30T19:59:37Z")
Humans domesticated dogs. Cats domesticated humans. Bit of a difference there as to who’s in charge. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-a-good-boy-yes-you-are/852845/9 "2020-04-30T22:26:34Z")
[Nation’s Dog Owners Demand To Know Who’s A Good Boy](https://www.theonion.com/nations-dog-owners-demand-to-know-whos-a-good-boy-1819565849)🙂 ---
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2020, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-a-good-boy-yes-you-are/852845/10 "2020-05-01T01:23:33Z")
[“Who’s good boy?”](http://www.threepanelsoul.com/comic/dog-philosophy) ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2020, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-a-good-boy-yes-you-are/852845/11 "2020-05-01T03:20:11Z")
> [@wolfpup](#): > > I’ve owned cats myself in my youth I have sinned in that direction a couple of times. But dogs are good people. ---
**Author:** ![RioRico](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f04885/32.png) [@RioRico](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RioRico)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2020, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-a-good-boy-yes-you-are/852845/12 "2020-05-02T04:08:25Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > But dogs are good people. Except when one eats the PB&J sandwich I left on the coffee table for a minute when I went to the fridge for a soda. Or when one destroys a classy inherited sofa. Yes, some canines can be admirable. A friend was abused by her creepy BF. Her Chihuahua ran outside, jumped through the guy’s open car window, and shat mightily on his upholstery. Good dog! ---
**Author:** ![Chisquirrel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Chisquirrel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chisquirrel)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2020, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-a-good-boy-yes-you-are/852845/13 "2020-05-02T06:43:52Z")
> [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](#): > > Domestic dogs also have extra muscles around their eyes that wolves don’t have, so that they can make puppy dog eyes at you. > > It works! Don’t know if it’s true, but it wouldn’t surprise me. Vaya has a ridge of dark fur right above her eyes, and she can seemingly make them go any direction she wants, giving plenty of different expressions. Yes, I know she’s not human and doesn’t have human expressions. I’ve spent way too much time around dogs to understand their actual expressions (usually). But when she flops over and looks up (or to the side, that’s the BEST), I don’t really care. ETA: [Looks like it’s true.](https://www.pnas.org/content/116/29/14677) ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2020, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-a-good-boy-yes-you-are/852845/14 "2020-05-03T12:51:21Z")
> [@Chisquirrel](#): > > Don’t know if it’s true, but it wouldn’t surprise me. Vaya has a ridge of dark fur right above her eyes, and she can seemingly make them go any direction she wants, giving plenty of different expressions. > > Yes, I know she’s not human and doesn’t have human expressions. I’ve spent way too much time around dogs to understand their actual expressions (usually). But when she flops over and looks up (or to the side, that’s the BEST), I don’t really care. > > ETA: [Looks like it’s true.](https://www.pnas.org/content/116/29/14677) I wonder if [Dogor](https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/frozen-siberian-puppy-could-be-ancestor-wolves-and-dogs-180973673/) had those muscles. ---
**Author:** ![ivylass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9de053/32.png) [@ivylass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ivylass)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2020, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-a-good-boy-yes-you-are/852845/15 "2020-05-03T13:41:16Z")
Not all dogs are good boys. Many are good girls. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2020, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-a-good-boy-yes-you-are/852845/16 "2020-05-03T13:57:21Z")
> [@Chisquirrel](#): > > Don’t know if it’s true, but it wouldn’t surprise me. Vaya has a ridge of dark fur right above her eyes, and she can seemingly make them go any direction she wants, giving plenty of different expressions. Yes, it’s true. And dogs and wolves have facial muscles cats don’t have. Which is not at all surprising since cats are an alien species. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2020, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-a-good-boy-yes-you-are/852845/17 "2020-05-08T00:35:41Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > I have a cousin (once removed) who actually believes this. She thinks that when they breed, the cat gives birth to mixed puppies and kittens. > > This cousin is not a little child. She’s in her 60s. Did she take a different bus to school than you did? ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [May 14, 2020, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whos-a-good-boy-yes-you-are/852845/18 "2020-05-14T03:47:22Z")
I wonder if they’ve ever done a genetics study on those Siberian foxes that have been domesticated? It’d be interesting to see if they have the same sort of mutation that dogs have (and that coyotes lack) - or if there’s a different mutation that allows the foxes to be friendly.