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
I get it though, unconditional love is something else. They will always love you while never asking questions and when they do something wrong (like rolling in shit), you can say they don’t understand (they totally do)
Because they are incapable of, I get the sentiment that dogs relationship for some people mean, but you can’t project the part of sentiment they are incapable of, on them, and be happy about it.
No, dogs can definitely hate you. If they know you’re a shit person, that opinion is formed and they won’t like you. You got to be really careful with dogs, something as little as a friendly prank or tease can really hurt their feelings and they’ll go out of their way to not be around you.
Absolutely. This isn’t anthropomophisation either. Some dogs can be vindictive, jealous, mercenary etc. Sometimes they just don’t like someone. Could be smell, could be anything.
My old dog hated dreadlocks. Can dogs be racist? Probably.
That’s all that matters when you need some support
Hell yeah!
Incapable of loving? I guess it depends how idealized is your personal concept of “love”.
no not love,I was talking about the questioning part in this case.
Hmm I don’t know, it really depends what is the meaning of “asking questions”.