Of course dogs are conscious. The accepted dogma that "only humans are conscious" is just more anthro-centrism of the same form as the Ptolemaic (Earth centered) model of the Universe.

If you've ever really known a dog, you know that they are conscious. Most mammals have a degree of self-awareness and it is highly developed in dogs.

Dogs are pack animals. They have an innate sense of how to fit in. Not only that but they can bring members of the pack together. This is a great way to bond with your daughter. Walking the dog is a cheap trip out to parks etc. and you both can share a love.

Think of a dog in the same way you would a six year old child. That's about the cognitive level which most dogs are functioning at.

This is the reason which dogs and humans make such perfect companions. Dogs never develop past that phase where they think mom and dad are the best ever and can do no wrong. No dog will ever stop wanting to hang out with you unless it involves doing it for just long enough to bribe you out of the car keys.

The difference between dogs and gods are that dogs are real. Dogs definitely have a conciousness - different than our own though.

This made me sad.

If there's one single issue that makes me despise the human race completely - it's the treatment of dogs. Dog owners* are some of the most selfish bastards on earth.

A few years ago I had to call an animal rescue charity because an 'animal lover', in the block of flats I live in, had gotten a new dog.

This dog lover had left their dog alone in the flat whilst they went out to work. It used to howl with distress (because it didn't know if it had been abandoned or not). This went on for months.

One time I actually went to check to see if it was alright because it sounded more distressed than usual.

When I looked through the glass of the door I could see it sat in an unlit hallway. It was night time and it had been left alone from the morning. It looked at me, completely dejected. It broke my heart. I cried.

So whenever I see dog owners smugly parading their trophies on leads, like little control freak Hitlers, ignoring the turds their animals leave for others to step in, I have to think about something else to stop my blood from boiling.

Not all dog owners *

I'm just hoping you aren't serious about training the dog to be a vego (which I'm guessing means vegetarian)

Yes. So are you. We are all god.

I absolutely believe that dogs have feelings and can sense certain things. My dog is always there to comfort me on a normal basis but, when I am really upset, she comforts me in a different way than she usually does. It is like she knows that at that time, I need that extra cuddling and nuzzling. They are so therapeutic. (I know that has nothing to do with the topic). I am sure that most of their actions that seem to be feelings are just instinct or intuition. I choose to ignorantly believe that they are feelings. I love dogs. I question people that don't like them. ?

Forcing dogs, who are primarily carnivores, to be "vego" is what is wrong with militant vegan mentality. It's cruel and flat out stupid. There, I said it.
People should no more force dogs & cats to be "vego" than a lion. smfh

All non-humans are sentient beings whose lives humans need to learn to respect. We are all Earthlings. We are all Equal. All beings have the right to live free of wrongful imprisonment, enslavement, exploitation, and murder at the hands of humans. All non-human animals have the right to live peacefully on the earth without human interference.

Ha.
We've a 70+ pound German Shepherd named Zorak. Pretty good name for a God.... right? He's (again, god-like being male) content as long as he is sacrificed to (food and petting), and is in the presence of his worshipers. If you were to enter his domain unannounced though, you'd suffer old testament "wrath of god" treatment.
So, I think you may be onto something dog=god.

If you read Jack Londons "White fang" dogs look at us as gods.

Is it asleep? No? Then it's conscious. I suspect that you think the word means something more than that though?

Definitely not a god though. Unless it's Anubis but that's unlikely.

the same self or awareness that resides within us also resides within the dog. it is just filtered through different apparatus no the ability to connect is limited.

No disrespect meant to anybody on this site, but what is really needed is a lesson in animal taxonomy and physiology, focusing on the nervous system. All mammals and birds in particilur hsve advanced nervous systems, advanced brain development and advanced brain stem. Because of this, they can feel pain, sense emotions, have and display emotionds, express emotional need and distress. They may lack our abstract ability to put a name to the emotion they feel and then be able to have a reasoned conversation about it, but do not mistake for a minute that they aren't capable of feeling most rmotions.

I won't delve onto the anatomy and physiology of the digestove sydtem, as many of you gave already touched upon it.

I don't know of any solid evidence that dogs have self-awareness, so my vote is no.
I think its a case of anthropomorphism and wishful thinking.

But then how on earth would anyone know?!

Dogs and gods aren't the same as dogs exist. Like all animals, dogs have what most people consider to be a conscious. To me, conscious is overthought and nothing more than backup memory.

Hmmmm

Totally agree with you !

Do your daughter's dog a favor and respect that canines are carnivores!! Your choice to be a vegan (or whatever) is your choice, but is not a choice for a dog (or cat). And, yes, dogs are highly conscious, and can posses great intelligence and even humor!

By consciousness do you mean is a dog aware that it is alive or aware that it is a dog?