The bond between dogs and humans: an expert opinion

It’s officially the Season of Pet Happiness here at Trusted HQ  - so just a normal day for us - naturally!

To celebrate all things wagging tails and over-excited face licks, we’re here with Dr Marc Abraham OBE, exploring the unique connection between dogs and humans. 

Otherwise known as ‘Marc the Vet’, Marc is a multi-award-winning veterinarian, author, broadcaster, and animal welfare campaigner - with a treasure trove of knowledge on our canine friends, and their relationship with us humans.

So, stick with us as Marc the Vet takes us all the way back to the start, where the canine-human love affair first began.

Dogs and humans: An unbreakable bond throughout history

Dogs have been an integral part of human societies for thousands of years, ingraining themselves in cultural practices, art, and literature; elevating dogs to a status of beloved companions, or put simply, family members. Explore below for a breakdown of the bond between dogs and humans throughout the centuries.

Dogs and humans: ancient hunting companions 

Should you ever find yourself wandering in the Arabian Desert, keep an eye out for a stone carving depicting a hunter drawing his bow for the kill, accompanied by 13 dogs. 

You’ll notice two of these dogs have clearly engraved lines running from their necks to the man's waist, possibly to free his hands for the bow and arrow. 

Dating back over 8,000 years, these engravings represent some of the earliest depictions of the human-canine bond, with those lines widely thought to be leashes. 
This suggests that ancient people had already mastered the art of dog training and control thousands of years earlier than first thought. These likely Canaan dogs are a largely feral breed who roam the Middle East; a possible indicator that ancient people bred dogs already adapted to hunting in deserts.

Survival, emotional connection and sled-pulling

The unique, often unbreakable bond shared between dogs and humans has profoundly shaped the course of human history and development. 

This relationship - rooted in companionship and emotional connection - evolved from early cooperative hunting to the ancient Greeks and Romans keeping dogs for protection and friendship.

Many indigenous cultures also used dogs for survival and transportation, such as Arctic sled-pulling. 

The multifaceted roles dogs play in today’s society mean they’re indispensable to humans in so many different capacities, making them socially, culturally, emotionally, and economically entwined in our lives. 

After thousands of years of domestication from wolves, this incredibly deep human-canine bond isn’t just a practical one, but also deeply touching. 

Athletes, emotional support animals and service dogs

In modern times, dogs provide essential physical and mental health assistance to individuals with disabilities, as well as offering comfort and emotional support in hospitals, nursing homes, and disaster areas. 

Canines are also invaluable in serving law enforcement and military operations (German Shepherds), finding drugs and explosives (Spaniels), and even detecting diseases such as cancer and diabetes. 

Dogs also participate in various sports and activities, such as agility and flyball (usually Border Collies), enhancing their incredible bond even more with their human partners, through shared experiences and teamwork. 

Why do dogs love humans?

It’s never difficult observing examples of dogs loving their humans, just look at how often they look up adoringly at their dog owners when walking in the park.  Take a look below to explore why the bond between the two is so strong.

The domesticated dog: a process of selection

Attributed to a combination of evolutionary factors, social bonding, and biochemical processes, the canine-human bond is a complex one.

The interplay of genetics, behaviour, and neurochemistry has been studied extensively, providing insights into why dogs and humans share such a profound bond, often simplified to the phrase ‘unconditional love’. 

The domestication of dogs from wolves involved a selection process favouring traits that fostered positive interactions with humans. Over thousands of years, dogs evolved to become attuned to human behaviours and emotions.

Traits such as reduced aggression, increased sociability, and an ability to read human cues were naturally selected. 

This evolutionary path has made dogs particularly suited to living alongside us, resulting in the formation of human-canine bonds.

A unique understanding

Like us, dogs are highly social and capable of forming strong attachments with other dogs and also humans. They can develop a remarkable ability to understand human gestures, expressions, and vocal tones. 

Dogs can follow a human’s pointing gesture - skills that even some primates struggle with. This ability to communicate and bond with humans is a key factor in developing strong emotional ties - it makes humans feel understood and valued, deepening our affection for one another. 

Biochemical processes

The canine-human bond is also reinforced by biochemical processes, as every interaction, especially eye contact, brings with it a release of oxytocin.

Often referred to as the ‘love hormone’, it’s associated with social bonding and feelings of affection, further strengthening the emotional connection.

Positive reinforcement

Positive, behavioural reinforcement plays a crucial role in dogs’ affection towards us too. 

Rewards like food, affection, or playtime from their humans creates a cycle of positive reinforcement, further deepening the bond. 

Genetics

Research has also identified specific genes associated with sociability in dogs, genes linked to the dog's ability to form close relationships with humans and exhibit attachment behaviours. 

Genetic predisposition means that dogs are biologically inclined to seek out and enjoy human companionship.

Why do humans love dogs?

Just like dogs’ love for humans, our admiration for them is also a similar bond with deep roots in our history and continues to be strengthened by numerous scientific factors - take a look below to explore these. 

A historic connection

We already know that for generations, humans domesticating dogs gained advantages in hunting, protection, and companionship; relationships improving survival, success, and fostering that strong bond. 

By also offering humans companionship and emotional support they made us more likely to thrive in challenging environments too.

Love, loyalty and reduced blood pressure

As well as unconditional love, loyalty, and improving our physical health when exercised, dogs also provide significant psychological benefits to humans such as confidence, helping alleviate feelings of loneliness and depression. 

Interacting with dogs has been shown to reduce stress and anxiety levels, lower blood pressure, promote a sense of well-being, and even improve recovery rates after surgery. 

Fulfilment, routine and neurochemical interactions

The routine of responsibly caring for a dog also adds structure to our lives, providing a sense of purpose and fulfilment. 

Emotional bonds between humans and dogs are further bolstered by neurochemical interactions. It’s no surprise that as well as oxytocin release, happy neurotransmitters - serotonin and dopamine - are also released, enhancing the overall positive experience when dogs bond with us.

A final word 

The dog-human bond is a testament to the profound connections that can develop between species. Our love for dogs is a complex interplay of evolutionary history, psychological and biochemical benefits, plus social and cultural influences. 

This multifaceted relationship has created an enduring bond that continues to thrive in modern society. As we move forward, the partnership between humans and dogs will undoubtedly continue to evolve, further solidifying their place as indispensable companions and collaborators in our lives. 

Whilst we still have a long way to go, even with our companion animals, there has been a noticeable shift in our relationship with dogs, from hierarchy, domination, and mastery to cooperation, collaboration and compassion. 

The portrayal of dogs in media, popular culture, and social media further reinforces their many roles, shaping societal attitudes and increasing the appeal of dogs as our four-legged best friends.

How to get a dog to like you

Back to us in the (Team Trusted) studio! Want to get the bond between you and your new canine pal just right? Explore our blog on how to get a dog to like you.