In all honesty, yes! I like my dogs more than quite a few people I have met in my life, even relatives and so called close family members! They are honest in their emotions ... the dogs I mean, lol! They are protective of me. They don't lie to me. They are never aggressive towards me and are such trusted companions. When I am down they always come to comfort me and never judge me! They make me laugh a lot of the time and keep a smile on my face every day. When I am feeling ill, my hearthound won't leave my side and our other wolfhounds and our little Shih-Tzu usually stay close as well. They always forgive me when I make mistakes or forget things and never give me a hard time about my failings and weaknesses. I wish I could be as good a person as they seem to think I am.
So tonywiltshire, I don't think you should be ashamed of yourself at all.