Why Do We Love Dogs? And Why Do They Love Us Back?
Missing them when we’re at work. Revolving our worlds around their four legs. Refusing to evacuate hurricane-beaten lands without them in tow. Choking up when the SPCA commercial comes on, Sarah McLachlan’s “Angel” bellowing in the background. Hanging their picture in the
most prominent place in our house. It’s no secret – we love dogs. And, as they’re part-time pets and part-time stalkers, it’s no secret that they love us right back.
Throughout history this has occurred – when humans domesticated wild dogs, the canines didn’t just become our acquaintances; they became our BFFs. The unyielding loyalty is a partnership not seen in other unions and it goes both ways – an AP poll conducted about a decade ago found that 14% of married people would even choose their pet over their partner.
So, what is it about wet snouts and floppy ears that pull on the human heartstrings? And what is it about humans, and all our flaws, that makes dogs think we’re perfect? Why is the love between these two species so unbreakable?
It’s the Hormones….Partly
Initially, the relationship between pet and person was symbiotic, a partnership beneficial to all involved – dogs hunted for humans and, in return, we kept them fed and sheltered. But, in the
modern world, we get our food from Door Dash, not Dobermans. And, yet, the adoration never waivers. Love is both a four-letter word and a four-legged one.
Among the reasons for this love are hormones. When dogs and humans make contact, oxytocin (and other “feel good” hormones) are released, helping to further cement our bond. The more they’re released, the more we seek them, helping to explain part of the draw we have to our furry friends.
Dogs still rely on us too, even if we don’t rely on them in the same way history demanded. They need us for food, housing, care, and safety and that need translates into appreciation. Humans, it turns out, want to feel needed – thus, this dynamic creates a different kind of symbiotic relationship.
We also view dogs (as well as other animals) as helpless and that widens the amount of compassion and empathy we apply to them, which plays a role in love. We tend to have less patience for our fellow man, believing most people are capable of helping themselves.
Bringing out the Best
Dogs, at their heart, are good. Sure, there are dogs that are aggressive and destructive, but dogs react on instinct or past trauma – they don’t have the capacity to know right from wrong. This basic and thorough decency speaks to humans and helps us strive to mimic their actions. Want to be an upstanding person? Act like your dog.
Dogs also give us purpose – a reason to get out of bed in the morning, a reason to go for a walk outside, a reason to rush home after work. They stroke our egos too – when dogs love us without hesitation, we can’t help but love them just as much. And the loyalty, the rock-solid loyalty, offers reassurance. As humans, we know that our dogs will always have our back – in this world, nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes…and your dog absolutely adoring you.
Ultimately, love (of dogs, humans, or anything else) is somewhat unexplainable – it’s weird, complicated, and sometimes void of reason. That’s partly what makes it so wonderful.
JJ Keeler lives in Colorado with a house full of pets. She owns three dogs, two cats, and a hamster she bought as a bribe to get her daughter to ride the school bus. She has a BA in English Literature from the University of Colorado and has worked as a professional writer for fifteen years. Her clothes are perpetually covered in pet hair.
