I guess I'm the weirdo who actually always considered the unconditional love of a dog to be vastly inferior to the earned love of a cat for example.

That's just the toxoplasmosis speaking :-D

The cat only fools you into thinking it loves you to lure you into a false sense of security

Dogs don't automatically love either, you have to build a bond. Especially if they are shelter dogs with abusive histories, they're often nervous at first

They're usually loving by nature, but you still have to build a rapport, like anyone else

When mom brought home a puppy when we were kids it loved us from the start, don't remember having to build anything I was just there. Older dogs, sure, but when they grow up with you they love you, they aren't like human siblings that often fight and start disliking each other etc, dogs just love you.

>Maybe there are some weirdos out there that feels unconditional love isn't love, but I have never heard anyone say that.

I'll be that weirdo.

Dogs seemingly are bred to love. I can literally get some cash from an ATM, drive out to the sticks, buy a puppy from some breeder, and it will love me. Awww, I'm a hero.

Do you think that literally being able to buy love cheapens it? Way I see it, love is love: surely it being readily available is a good thing.

I'm bred to love my parents, and them me; but the fact that it's automatic doesn't make it feel any less.

Also I don't know how you can choose to like or not like someone. You either do or you don't.

Interesting. I feel like I can consciously choose to like or dislike people. Once you get to know people better, your image of them evolves, and the decision to continue liking them is made repeatedly every time that image changes.

When your initial chemistry/biology/whatever latches onto a person and you're powerless to change it? That's a scary thought.