Why are dogs so loyal to humans?

Scientists believe dogs have lived among humans for over 13,000 years (some estimates go back as far as 15,000 years), and some scientists believe domestication occurred as early as the Upper Paleolithic. And all this time, people have been searching for an answer to one question: why are dogs so devoted to humans? What is the reason for such boundless devotion and love?

Canine devotion

Folk wisdom says that cats are kept by those who want to give love, while dogs are kept by those who need to be loved. After all, as pack animals, dogs are capable of developing strong attachments to their owners and family members.

Among the many feelings that our pets are capable of experiencing, scientists highlight:

• the joy of meeting, communicating and playing together;
• the desire to receive praise from the owner;
• separation anxiety (dogs experience pain when their owner leaves or is absent for a long time);
• care (the dog guards its people and protects them from those it considers a potential source of danger);
• sympathy (if the owner is sick or simply sad);
• jealousy (towards other people or pets);
• severe stress in the event of the loss of the owner (or if a person abandons an animal).

It is not without reason that a dog's devotion has been placed on a pedestal, and canine loyalty has been recognized as the standard.

There are many proofs in history that a dog's loyalty is truly boundless:

• Hachiko – an Akita Inu dog that continued to come to Shibuya Station in Akita, Japan, for more than 10 years after its owner’s death.
• Dorado – a guide dog who saved his blind owner during the terrorist attack that took place at the World Trade Center.
• Eve – a Rottweiler from the USA who independently decided to pull her owner out of a burning car and drag her to a safe distance.
• Siko – a "little hero" who saved his young owner from a venomous snake. The dog suffered serious injuries in the encounter with the reptile, but thanks to timely assistance, survived.
• Elga – a German shepherd who served in a mine clearance team for over nine years and saved many lives. A monument to the shaggy heroine was erected in Primorsk-Akhtarsk, Russia.

And this is only a small part of the feats that dogs are driven to by their boundless love for people.

Why are dogs so loyal to people?

Analyzing how a loyal dog behaves and what they are willing to do for the people close to them, scientists identify the following main reasons that explain devotion.

Genetic predisposition

During the process of evolution, being close to humans, dogs have learned to establish an emotional connection with their owner.

According to numerous studies, visual contact between the owner and the dog leads to synchronization of neural activity, which allows animals to so subtly sense the mood and condition of their owner.

Over the course of many centuries, selective breeding (people choosing dogs with certain character traits and qualities as companions) has resulted in loyalty and devotion being genetically ingrained in most breeds.

Man as part of a pack

Scientists believe that dogs' love for humans is largely explained by their pack behavior.

Whether your dog has been in your home since its first months of life or comes home as an adult, it perceives all people living nearby as its pack. Of course, dogs perceive the world differently than humans, but their packs also have strict laws:

• the strongest and most self-confident leader becomes the leader;
• all members of the pack obey the leader;
• weak relatives are protected and looked after.

This way, your loyal dog can treat its primary owner as a leader, recognizing his leadership, and protect and look after the rest of the family.

The owner as a source of joy

Another theory as to why dogs love people so much is that loyalty is a result of the positive emotions that the dog associates with its owner.

It's also very important for dogs to feel loved, so it's important to fill your pet's life with:

• positive emotions (praise, affection);
• joint walks;
• fun and varied games;
• exciting lessons.

Scientists have proven that when a dog smells or sees its owner, its brain activates areas responsible for joy and pleasure, and the level of the happiness hormone in the blood increases sharply.

That's why you should never yell at a dog, be aggressive toward it, or use physical punishment. For your pet to be loyal and trust you completely, it shouldn't experience fear, resentment, or other negative emotions when it sees its owner.

Dependence on a person

When asked whether dogs love their owners, scientists also concluded that dependence develops even before a strong psychological bond between humans and animals is formed. And animals are well aware of what they gain from their owners:

• food and treats;
• comfort;
• feeling of security;
• positive emotions.

Most often, the most loyal dogs are those who receive mutual love and care from their owners, as well as those who have had negative experiences with people but have found a person in a new family whom they have learned to trust unconditionally.

The most loyal dog breeds

Now you know why dogs are so loyal and how to maintain your pet's love for its owner and the people living nearby.

But if you're just thinking about getting a dog and want your pet to be as attached to you as possible and love you unconditionally, consider the following breeds:

• Good people: Labrador Retriever, Spaniel, Bernese Mountain Dog, Setter;
• Security guards: German Shepherd, Moscow Watchdog, Alabai, Rottweiler, Giant Schnauzer, Doberman, English Mastiff, Irish Wolfhound;
• Medium size: Border Collie, Welsh Corgi, Dachshund, English Bulldog, Basset Hound;
• Decorative: Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier, Toy Terrier, Beagle, Pinscher.

Naturally, this doesn't mean that breeds not included on the list will be less loyal or devoted. Animal psychologists and dog trainers believe that the decisive role in shaping a dog's behavioral characteristics is not the breed, but the owner's attitude and the proper approach to training the animal.

We invite you to share your stories of the loyalty and devotion of your beloved pets, including the breed of your beloved friend. Let this serve as further proof that dogs of all colors are capable of giving their owners endless love. The most important thing is that this feeling and care are always mutual.

Read also:

• Why does a dog chase its tail?
• What do dogs think about?
• Why do people love cats?