2/6/2023
Why Do I Love My Dog So Much?
It’s no secret that people love their dogs. Humans and dogs have been close friends for thousands of years, and that trend isn’t going to change anytime soon. But exactly why do people love dogs so much?
There are plenty of reasons why these furry friends are our favorites – it’s hard not to pet something that cute. However, the bond between a pet parent and their best friend goes a lot deeper than you might expect.
3 Reasons Why We Love Dogs So Much
According to science, we can’t help but love these adorable animals. Over time, experts have studied the close relationships between humans and dogs. What they found was simple – people are naturally predisposed to bonding with dogs. Here are a few big reasons why dogs are meant to be our best friends.
Our brains are hardwired to love dogs
Simply put, our brains make it very easy to bond with dogs. According to Psychology Today, the human mind naturally creates the need for people to develop close relationships as a means for survival. This basic survival instinct is what drives people to develop close relationships – and those relationships extend to our furry friends.
There are also several other scientific reasons that people are naturally drawn to dogs. There are several connections between dogs and good mental health. Research has proven that our canine companions can be good for you both physically and emotionally, including the following benefits:
- Dogs make people happier. People release the hormone oxytocin whenever they touch, hug, or even look into their dog’s eyes, and these increased oxytocin levels naturally improve your mood and make you feel good.
- Dogs make people feel less lonely. A national survey of people who live with and without pets found that 85% of people found that interacting with a pet reduced loneliness.
- Dogs alleviate stress and anxiety. Scientists at Washington State University found that people can lower their heart rate, blood pressure, and muscle tension after petting a dog for just 10 minutes.
Dogs simply love you for who you are
Another reason why people genuinely love dogs is because they genuinely love us back. There are no ulterior motives when it comes to your furry friend – they love you for who you are and just want to spend time with you.
It may seem simple, but that pure affection is contagious. It feels good to be loved and valued by someone, and dogs will go out of their way to show you how important you are to them. Just think of how happy they are to see you when you get back home. From tail wags to cuddles, there are plenty of ways your dog can say I love you, and it’s hard not to share that affection.
Dogs are just too cute
People may joke that dogs are so cute that you have to love them, but there’s evidence to support that claim. It turns out that big eyes, floppy ears, and boopable noses are naturally appealing to our brains. Puppies and babies share something called “infant schema,” which is a fancy way of saying they share certain characteristics that make us want to take care of them. As a result, your dog really is so cute that you can’t help but love them.
Dogs and Humans – A Match Made to Last
It doesn’t matter the size or breed, a dog is an animal we were naturally made to love and it has been that way for a long time – at least since we first domesticated our best friends between 20,000 and 40,000 years ago.
Of course, it’s important to do what we can to keep our canine companions as happy as possible. Want to learn about other ways that you can help your best friend stay happy and healthy? Join Bil-Jac's Best Friends Club to receive exclusive email updates, informative articles, and members-only discounts on Bil-Jac dog food, treats, and other products.
