The Top 5 Reasons Why Dogs and Humans Share Such a Special Bond – Paddington Pups (2024)

There are many reasons why humans and dogs share such a special bond. Dogs have been man’s best friend for centuries. They were the first animals to be domesticated by humans, and have been an essential part of human society ever since. The love people have for their furry friends is unwavering. From understanding each other’s emotions to being protective of one another, here are five reasons why humans and our canine companions share such a special bond.

  1. Dogs provide unconditional love to humans

Dogs are one of the most loyal animals on earth. They are protective and give us endless amounts of love and the feeling of being needed. When you introduce a dog into your family, you’ll be given the gift of unconditional love for life. Dogs will never let you down and will stand by you through thick and thin, even when times get tough. The only thing they ask for in return is your love and attention. The Top 5 Reasons Why Dogs and Humans Share Such a Special Bond – Paddington Pups (1)

Dogs show great empathy for their humans and they know when something is wrong with their owner. When that happens, they’ll do anything to console them and make them feel better again by adding some extra cuddles and kisses to the mix.

Dogs also provide comfort and happiness to people who may not be as lucky as others in life and need someone who will always care about them unconditionally.

  1. Dogs are obedient

Dogs are instinctively programmed to do as they’re told. It’s an innate response to do what their humans command them to do. Dogs also never cease to amaze us with the things they can be trained to do.

While some breeds are better at being obedient than others, all dogs have the potential for being obedient and following commands from their humans. This trait has been bred into them over time, making man’s best friend just that—a companion that will listen and obey you without question or hesitation.

  1. Dogs help humans to feel needed

Dogs are not only man’s best friend, but they are also there to make us feel needed. They do this by fulfilling their duties as companion animals, which includes things like doing tricks, sitting on command, and playing fetch, as well as simply being there for us in times of need. Pets act as a loyal friend who won’t judge you and will always be there for you no matter what!

Pets can help us to feel less lonely and studies have shown that people with pets experience less symptoms of loneliness and greater life satisfaction compared to people who don’t have a pet.

  1. Dogs lower human’s stress levels

Dogs can be a great form of stress relief for humans. When a person is stressed, they experience increased levels of cortisol. Studies show that when people pet their dogs, the dog’s presence lowers cortisol levels in humans by up to 50 percent.

This is because a person’s heart rate slows down and their blood pressure goes down when they spend time with their furry pals. When a person spends time with their dog, it actually creates a similar hormone response as if the human were taking care of a child.

In addition to lowering stress levels, dogs can provide protection from depression and anxiety by boosting the chemicals in our brain that produce positive feelings like serotonin and dopamine.

So next time you’re feeling stressed out, head outside and take your pup for a walk!

  1. Dogs can be used as therapy animals.

For those who are struggling with depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues, therapy dogs can be highly beneficial.

Dogs have been used as therapy animals for centuries. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) suggests therapy dogs can provide comfort and companionship for people who are recovering from illness or surgery, who have disabilities, or who are elderly.

The human-animal bond is known to have a positive effect on both the person and the dog. For the person with a disability or illness, this time spent with their pet will help alleviate symptoms of their conditions. For the dog, they get to spend time with their favourite person and make someone happy—which is always a great feeling.

Dogs are helpful, loyal, and comforting and bring us an abundance of joy and happiness. Dogs need love just as much as humans do and they both provide it to each other in different ways that complement one another beautifully.

The Top 5 Reasons Why Dogs and Humans Share Such a Special Bond – Paddington Pups (2024)

FAQs

Why do humans and dogs have a special bond? ›

No one disputes the clear bond dogs have with us and there have been many studies that explore this attachment. Some researchers reason that it has to do with the dog's cognitive abilities, but others believe it has less to do with intelligence and more to do with friendliness and sociability.

What is the special bond dogs and humans share? ›

Psychologists believe that the relationship between human and canine is a bidirectional attachment bond, which resembles that of the typical human caretaker/infant relationship, and shows all of the usual hallmarks of a typical bond.

What makes dogs so special to humans? ›

Dogs can help us be our best selves

They can confide in their dog and love them unconditionally – sometimes more easily than they can another human. Dogs are playing important roles in animal-assisted therapy, where their nonjudgmental presence can be a calming influence and facilitate social interactions.

Do humans share a special bond with their pets? ›

The human-animal bond is a special, mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between people and animals that is influenced by behaviors that are essential to the health and well-being of both.

Why do humans and dogs have such a good relationship? ›

The social adaptations of dogs and humans are similar enough that dogs can live perfectly happy lives surrounded by humans and vice versa. Dogs are pampered with the best of food and medical care, frequently sleeping in their owners' comfortable beds.

Why are dogs so loyal and loving to humans? ›

Your dog is grateful to you for the essentials of life that you provide and so is loyal to you. There is a scientific basis for this: domestic dogs are descended from wolves, which man once took in and tamed with shelter and food in return for them acting as guard dogs.

What qualities do humans and dogs share? ›

Moreover, the researchers discovered that functional dog-owner relationships tend to be “complementary” – with both humans and animals being similarly friendly, but opposite in dominance/submissiveness traits.

What do humans share with dogs? ›

Dogs and humans share 84% of their DNA, which makes dogs ideal animals for studying human disease processes.

Why are dogs so in love with humans? ›

Dogs' brains are wired in a way that their love for us goes beyond basic instincts. Studies using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) have shown that certain areas of a dog's brain, like the caudate nucleus, light up in response to their owners.

Why do humans get so attached to dogs? ›

New research shows that when our canine pals stare into our eyes, they activate the same hormonal response that bonds us to human infants. The study—the first to show this hormonal bonding effect between humans and another species—may help explain how dogs became our companions thousands of years ago.

Why are dogs so nice to us? ›

Dogs and humans evolved together, forming a unique bond and a mutually beneficial relationship. Dogs provided protection, hunting assistance, and companionship to humans. And humans offered food, shelter, and care to dogs. Through this, dogs became better social and communicators, understanding human emotions and cues.

What do dogs love most about humans? ›

Most dogs love being petted on the back of the neck, shoulders or chest. Some dogs love belly rubs, but others not-so-much. Many dogs would rather you not hug them, though, because they might feel constrained and terrified. Slow petting, similar to gentle massage or light scratching, is calming to them.

What gives dogs their special bond with humans? ›

Why do humans form such a strong human-canine bond with dogs? Oxytocin levels increase when staring into your dog's eyes, much like how human infants bond with their mothers. These love hormones may help increase the bonding between humans and their dogs.

What is the strongest human-animal bond? ›

The oldest and probably the strongest human-animal relationship is that between humans and dogs (Topál et al., 1997; Payne et al., 2015).

What is it called when a dog bonds with a human? ›

For the first seven weeks of life, puppies bond with and learn how to be a dog from their mother and littermates. When it comes to dogs and humans, “imprinting” refers to the bond that dogs form in their human imprinting stage with a particular human.

Why do dogs bond with certain humans? ›

If your dog has had some really fun, deep bonding time with you and is anticipating more of that, they might stay nearby, ready to play or snuggle up. Often those humans that are part of our pets' daily lives and contribute to meeting their social, health, and activity needs in positive ways become our pets' favorites.

Why do humans and animals bond so well? ›

Animals are not bound to societal norms and they do not pass judgement on the humans they are with. These qualities make them perfect for helping us develop or relearn social skills.

What is the special bond between animals and humans? ›

The human-animal bond is a mutually beneficial relationship between people and animals. It's influenced by behaviors essential to the mental, physical, and social health and wellbeing of both. The veterinarian's role is to maximize the potential of this relationship and to promote the wellbeing of people and animals.

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