The Fox and the Hound is a classic Disney movie that was released in 1981. The movie revolves around the unusual and unlikely friendship between a fox named Tod and a hound dog named Copper.

The two characters grow up together as best friends, but ultimately end up on opposite sides of the hunting troop.

The movie is known for its emotional scenes, and it is not uncommon for viewers to shed tears while watching it.

But what about dogs? Can they also feel a connection to the characters and cry while watching the movie? The answer is yes, and there are many stories of dogs crying while watching The Fox and the Hound.

Why Do Dogs Cry While Watching The Fox and the Hound?

Dogs have strong emotional connections with humans, and they are also capable of feeling empathy towards other animals. They can sense when someone is happy or sad, and they often respond accordingly.

This means that dogs can easily pick up on the emotional tone of a movie like The Fox and the Hound.

According to Dr. Stanley Coren, dogs also have a strong sense of social comparison. This means that they can compare their own experiences to those of the characters on the screen.

So if a dog sees a character in distress, they may start to feel distressed themselves.

The Science Behind Dog Emotions

There is a growing body of research that suggests dogs are capable of complex emotions. In fact, a study conducted by neurologists at Emory University found that dogs have similar neurological responses to humans when it comes to processing emotions.

The study used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to observe the brain activity of dogs as they were presented with a range of smells.

The results showed that the dogs’ brain activity was similar to that of humans when they were exposed to smells that were associated with positive or negative emotions.

This study suggests that dogs not only have emotional responses, but they also have the ability to process complex emotions like love and empathy. This could be one reason why dogs cry while watching movies like The Fox and the Hound.

Stories of Dogs Crying While Watching The Fox and the Hound

The internet is full of stories of dogs crying while watching The Fox and the Hound. One famous example is the story of Yogi, a golden retriever who became emotional while watching the movie with his owner.

The owner reported that as the movie progressed and it became clear that Tod and Copper could no longer be friends, Yogi started to get upset. He started whimpering and shaking, and eventually burst into tears.

The owner reported that Yogi had never done anything like this before, and she was shocked by his emotional reaction to the movie.

Another famous example is the story of a dog named Charlie, who was filmed while watching a scene from the movie where Tod and Copper say goodbye to each other.

In the video, Charlie can be seen whimpering and pawing at the screen as the emotional scene unfolds.

Is It Cruel to Show Dogs Emotional Movies?

While it is clear that dogs can have emotional reactions to movies like The Fox and the Hound, some people argue that it is cruel to expose them to such strong emotions.

They argue that dogs, unlike humans, cannot understand that it is just a movie and that the emotions they are feeling are not real.

However, others argue that dogs are resilient and can handle emotional experiences. They point out that dogs often experience strong emotions in real life, such as separation anxiety, and they are able to cope with these emotions on a daily basis.

In the end, it is up to individual owners to decide whether or not to expose their dogs to emotional movies like The Fox and the Hound.

But it is clear that dogs are capable of complex emotions and can have strong reactions to movies that evoke strong emotions in humans.

Conclusion

The Fox and the Hound is a classic Disney movie that is known for its emotional scenes. While it is not uncommon for humans to shed tears while watching the movie, dogs also have the ability to connect with the characters and feel strong emotions.

Studies have shown that dogs are capable of complex emotions, and there are many stories of dogs crying while watching The Fox and the Hound. Regardless of whether or not it is cruel to expose dogs to emotional movies, it is clear that dogs have a strong emotional connection to humans and can respond to emotions in much the same way that we do.