When it comes to dogs, we love them all. Big dogs, small dogs – dogs that yap. Even puppies that bite like our newest family member, Shadow von Pupperdo! He’s adorable. He’s also still teething and baby puppy teeth feel like razors.
But why is this? What is it about dogs that messes with our brains? Why are we so obsessed with them?
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Why We Love Our Dogs So Much
Psychologists have been trying to answer this question for a while. And they’ve come up with some interesting answers, shared by a guest author today. Here’s what they think about why we love our dogs so much:
We Evolved Together
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You see all sorts of symbiotic relationships in nature, like the small birds that feed off the insects that live in rhino skin. But it’s not just animals that live in these relationships: it’s people as well.
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One idea is that we feel strongly about dogs because we co-evolved with them over the last few thousand years. Dogs became important members of our society, providing important animal-rearing and security roles. It turns out that having them around allows us to live better and increases our chances of survival.
Look at it this way. Imagine you’re back in the stone age and the only tools available are carved stone and fire. In a dangerous environment like that, you want dogs on your side to provide the muscle to keep you safe. Tribes that loved their animals were much more likely to survive and pass their genes onto the next generation.
They Are Playful And Excitable
There’s another reason why we love our dogs, according to psychologists. And it all comes down to their inherent playfulness and excitability.
Imagine if our dogs didn’t react at all when new people or animals came along. So far as our ancestors were concerned, they wouldn’t be doing their job. Dogs were, in many ways, the eyes and ears of the tribe. And they remain squarely in that role today. If dogs weren’t listening intently to their surroundings, they wouldn’t provide us with the protection we want from them. We wouldn’t feel safe from predators.
They Are Your Best Friend
Dogs have another trait that makes them almost irresistible: the fact that they love you no matter what.
Many dog owners spend hours reading Freshpet reviews, product descriptions and forums trying to find the best possible treats for their dogs. The reason they do this is that they want to pay their dogs back for all the love and kindness they show.
Dogs don’t care if you’ve had a bad day. And even if you shout at them in a rage, they’ll forgive you and cuddle up beside you anyway. Somehow, they always manage to remind you that there’s more to life than whatever is going through your mind right now.
They Look So Darn Innocent
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Dogs are masters of the innocent look. And we fall for it every time. Humans can’t fool us by smiling sweetly, but dogs are always 100 percent sincere. We know exactly what they want immediately. Plus, we also know that our dogs will never judge us. It doesn’t matter what we do or say, they offer a kind of unconditional love that you just don’t find anywhere else.
There’s probably a million reasons why we love our dogs so much! But