:?: I rescued 2 beardies from a sad environment.... Snuggles used to dominate Legless (her sister) until I seperated them. While her dominance was very low-key, it still affected Legless immensley. Legless used to act like a statue all day every day when they were together, but now she's the most outgoing beardie in the world! She's totally different now.
Snuggles likes our relationship when it suits her, althought she's more of a daddy's girl. She'll cuddle when she's sleepy but apart from that, is happy to be left alone.... I don"t think she "loves" me as such, but she does enjoy my company...
Legless on the other hand, watches out for me constantly, is more upbeat the second I walk into the room & will lay on my chest watching me for hours on end. She even sleeps with her face on my lips/chin whenever she gets the chance. Her reactions to me are so very different from Snuggles & it truly seems that she does in fact love me very much. There's a certain sparkle in her eye whenever she sees me & everyone says it. I firmly believe that she does love me & that not all beardies (as with humans), are the same.... Some will show you love, others will toterate your company....
While humans are yes, far more intellectually advanced than reptiles, I don't believe we are SO far advanced that we can determine how love is measured by every other creature on this planet. I raised this question with my boyfriend who is in fact - a scientist. Even he now thinks after watching them each day, that they are capable of loving.
Not sure if this has been helpful but I wanted to show you 2 different examples.... And yes, I truly believe beardies are capable of "loving" us if they want too.... I ceratinly feel that Legless loves me with her whole heart :wink:
"Edited": to add that many people may argue that an un-trained cat could not use a human toilet instead of kitty litter, yet as I was typing this post my un-trained cat was peeing in my toilet bowl. Granted, he missed a bit, but for the most part, aimed quite well...
http://photobucket.com/Gandolf (photo was taken with a crappy old Nokia phone camera).