Abstract: Participants (N = 717) characterized their relationships with their dog and four human partners: closest kin, romantic partner, best friend, and child, using the Network of Relationships Inventory. The results showed that owners reported greater satisfaction with their dogs than with any human partner except their child. They received more Support from dogs than from any human partner except their child and experienced fewer Negative Interactions with their dogs compared to any human partner, except their best friend. Overall, the relationship with the dog provided high Companionship, opportunities for Nurturance, and minimal Negative Interactions. This may stem from the fact that the dog-human relationship features a more asymmetric power dynamic than human relationships – i.e., owners have full control over the dog’s life

Turcsán, B., Ujfalussy, D.J., Kerepesi, A. et al. Similarities and differences between dog–human and human–human relationships. Sci Rep 15, 11871 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-95515-8

  • Venus_Ziegenfalle@feddit.orgEnglish
    21·
    3 days ago

    I say this all the time. My cat is my best friend. I also have other friends but still it’s not even close. My cat wakes me up every morning at the same time, knows my entire routine, greets me at the door when I come home and curls up with me in bed. In turn I also know her routine and I make an effort to understand and provide what she needs in terms of food, games and environmental enrichment. It’s more symbiotic than any human relationship I’ve ever had.