Why do we Love Dogs?

 It’s no secret that we as humans have come to love dogs, even more so than other fellow humans at times. Studies show that at some point dating way back 20,000-40,000 years ago, we decided to befriend a common wild animal known as the wolf. Once the wolves realized we weren’t so bad either we sort of created an unspoken agreement, we would feed them if they would protect us, and the rest is history. We didn’t know then that this wild creature would soon be our most loyal companion. 

Of course, we have come a very long way since then from living in survival together to having our fur babies curled up in warm blankets beside us catching some Zs. But the question remains, why do we love dogs so much?

That may seem like a very easy answer, and you may be thinking, “why wouldn’t we love dogs?”  So, let’s break it down and take a closer look. 

If You Want Loyalty….Get a Dog

  As a dog owner, you already know how deep the loyalty of a dog runs. This is one of the top things that make a dog the best companion. They’re the one living being that will stay right by your side no matter what. Well--- that is, if there isn’t a nice piece of chicken nearby to catch their attention and make them run in the other direction.

But in all seriousness, when you have a dog as a companion, it’s safe to say that you have a sidekick for as long as they live. 

This stems from two main reasons: 

1. You give them food and shelter. Doing this builds a strong trust between you and your new BFF. They are grateful and in return, they give you, their loyalty.
2. This one is very basic and goes back to an instinct that is in all of us, we are a pack. In nature, it can be important to be in and stay in a pack for survival. To your dog you and your family are their pack and loyalty is the number one rule of being in a pack. 

They know you and they know your scent. Some dogs have even been known to show sadness or lie on the graves of those they loved that have passed, that’s how deep it truly runs.

To Have Unconditional Love Like a Dog, is to be a Better Person

  As humans, we tend to hold onto emotions such as anger, guilt, sadness, and other feelings that cause us to fall short on the “Unconditional love” scale. Dogs, on the other hand, have this life hack down to a science, literally. They aren’t able to hold on to emotions like we do. In turn, this causes them to love you no matter what. 

Whether you have left them alone all day, spent time with other dogs (we all know they can smell them on us), or just had to get after them to get them to come back inside before it rains, they are still there always waiting for you with paws wide open wagging their tail and ready to give you all their kisses and snuggles. How many of us can say the same? It doesn’t seem to be that easy for us. Maybe we could all take a lesson from the handbook, but this is what makes a dog so special. 

Having a Dog Improves Your Quality of Life

  Everyone is looking to improve their quality of life while we are here on this planet. I have big news for you, you do not have to look any further than your local animal shelter! That’s right, dogs are known to increase your quality of life. It is proven that they can help lower anxiety, boost a person's mood, increase physical activity, and promote a sense of purpose. 

Having the daily routine of getting up and caring for your pet, taking them for walks, or chasing them around the backyard can greatly affect your overall well-being.

 Although you may have to give up the other side of your bed…. oh, who am I kidding, you will probably be sleeping on the edge with a stiff-legged fur baby hogging the rest! That’s ok with me, but I guess we don’t have much of a choice, do we?

I know that if I am having a bad day or feeling blue, I just have to look in those puppy eyes full of love and my mood magically begins to change. Between their furry snuggles and their tendency to make you laugh, a dog is guaranteed to make your day better. 

Helping People is a Strong Suit

There are many animals that can be trained to be in service to people and help in many ways. A quick search will instantly tell you that dogs are at the top of the list of service animals. They are already caring and loyal, all they need is a little training. Dogs are intelligent mammals making them very easy to train under the right circumstances. They rely on instincts which means that their ability to tune in to natural instincts far outweighs a human’s ability to do so. They can sense danger before we can. There are many stories of dogs that saved someone’s life, but we will save those for another day. 

Dogs have an incredible sense of smell that can detect fires, drugs, bombs, deceased bodies, and even human diseases. Yes, human diseases! Isn’t that amazing? 

You may see dogs leading people who are visually impaired or know someone that has epilepsy that must keep a service dog around. They can be trained to alert others around of a seizure occurring, to get in the way of the person seizing in order to keep them from being injured, or to activate some type of alarm when needed. As we all know, dogs are very well known for being a big help on the police force, at a fire station, or in the military. These are just a few examples of the many ways that dog’s impact and help people on a daily basis. It seems that there isn’t much a dog isn’t good at or at least can’t be trained to do when they are needed.

Their Selflessness

At times, you may think that your dog is looking at you with judgmental eyes but more likely than not, they’re just waiting for you to give them a belly rub. No worries though, they will give you the time that you need until you finally give in. There is no such thing as judgment to them, even when you’re snoring at night or wake up with bed head, they love you just the same. 

They often will put your needs before their own. As shown above, all the times that dogs are in service of people and yet they never have the thought of, “what’s in it for me?” They are there to help when you need emotional support and comfort you in any way that they can. Unlike humans, they do not have the capacity to keep a tab on mistakes made along the way and honestly don’t seem to mind anyhow. All they know is that you love them, and they love you and that is enough for them. 

Final Thoughts

As I wrap up the final thoughts of why we love dogs I know that I could never fully explain all the aspects that bring us to the strong love that we feel for them. It’s a love that only dog lovers and dog owners could understand. They each have their own personality and are so much fun to watch. They are sure to make you laugh a time or two and always bring a smile to your face. After all, they say laughter is the best medicine. So, in other words, dogs are the best medicine, am I right?

 They are great listeners and great snuggle buddies. If you care for them and give them the love that they deserve they will always be the friend that you need, greeting you each time that you walk through the door. 

If you haven’t had the pleasure of owning a dog of your own, this Is your sign. You will find nothing better than this loving, selfless, protective, and loyal fur friend. There are many dogs that still need a good loving home just as much as you need a dog’s love. 

On the other hand, if you do have fur babies of your own then I’m sure you know exactly what I am talking about. Feel free to treat your baby and browse our shop of goodies that is in memory of Bella, an amazing dog that inspired this whole site where 10% of profits go to local dog rescue organizations to help other dogs in need. 

Thanks for reading! I hope you have a great day full of dog kisses and belly rubs!