HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED WHY DOGS MAKE SUCH GREAT COMPANIONS?

June 19, 2023

Have you ever wondered why dogs make such great companions? Or where did the term man’s best friend originate from? Dogs are very social animals that thrive off of attention and love. We have trained dogs over the years to be reliant on humans so they need us to survive, and us needing them for our own happiness and joy. 

Man’s Best Friend

The term “Man’s Best Friend” is one that we often hear when talking about dogs' effect on society. This term originated in 1870 by a lawyer from Lexington, KY named George Graham Vest. In the case titled Burden v Hornsby, Charles Burden’s hound dog named Old Drum was killed by his brother-in-law Leonidas Hornsby for trespassing on his land and “harassing” his cattle. Graham Vest was representing Burden in the case and created one of the most famous court appeals titled “Eulogy to Old Drum” as a way to help convey the emotions and love that Burden had for his dog. It is from this eulogy we get the term “Man’s Best Friend” due to Graham Vest stating to the jury “Remember a man’s best friend is his dog”. 

Dogs and Humans' Relationship

I think we can all agree that dogs and humans have a unique relationship that you don’t see with any other pet owners and their pets. According to experts, this relationship dates back thousands of years to when wolves and people came in contact with each other, and for reasons unknown, the canines took a liking to the humans forming a relationship between the two that has grown over the years. 

We often stop and ask ourselves “Why are these animals so loving and trusting of us as their owners?”, researchers think dogs might sense our emotions towards them and in return give that emotion back due to their cognitive abilities, or that dogs are born already being friendly and social animals. 

Dogs and their owners look alike

Have you ever seen someone out with their dog and thought “Huh, those two have a striking resemblance to each other” and then thought maybe you were seeing things or crazy for thinking that? This is actually a very common thing that society has been noticing more and more every time we look at dogs and their owners and might even explain even further the bond that we have with our pets. But why is this so common and what makes us as dog owners pick a dog that looks so much like us?:

1. Common Traits or Likings: Similarly to when you are picking a significant other, you are looking for traits in this companion that are similar to yours.  
2. Familiarity: Researchers think that one reason owners choose dogs that look similar to them is due to familiarity and feeling comfortable around something that looks or feels familiar to them. 
3. Personalities: It has been scientifically proven that over time dogs tend to gain similar personalities to their owners. Dogs that are calmer, or shy tend to have calm or shy owners. Dogs that are a bit more “talkative” or as some call them “yip yap dogs” tend to have owners that talk a lot or might be louder when talking to others. 

How Our Pets Benefit Our Lives

This has been a topic researched by so many to see how owners' relationships with their pets benefit their relationships with people. 

1. One study shows that pet owners, specifically those that own dogs, are more social and strong communicators than owners of other types of animals. 
2. It has been proven that dog owners are usually happier than other pet owners due to having a companion at home that is happy to see them and shows that happiness when you walk through the door. Our pets bring us support and joy daily and that is a trait that is hard to reverse over time. 
3. Dog owners tend to be healthier, as a result of going on daily dog walks. This not only benefits the owner's health but also the dog's health. Some owners like this method of exercise better than going to the gym as it feels safer to take your dog with you walking and it’s a form of bonding with your canine friend. 

In conclusion, we can all agree that dogs are the best pets for anyone to own. These animals are loving, supportive, help us with our social relationships, and so much more. 

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