The Complex Relationship Between Dogs and Humans
Dogs and humans have had an incredibly close bond and complex relationship dating back thousands of years. Archaeological evidence shows that dogs were likely the first animals to be domesticated by humans, with signs of this relationship emerging over 15,000 years ago. Since this early domestication, dogs and humans have continued to evolve and influence each other’s behavior and biology through their close relationships and co-existence.
One key aspect that makes the dog-human relationship so unique is dogs’ exceptional ability to understand human social cues like pointing, gaze, and gestures. They are also able to detect human emotions, respond to them, and form social attachments to people. This interspecies social intelligence allows dogs to communicate and cooperate with humans in a way seen in few other species.
This long, continuing history of co-evolution between dogs and humans is part of what makes our relationship so special and complex today.
Why Dogs Can Seem ‘Almost Human’
Dogs have evolved some remarkably human-like traits and behaviors as a result of thousands of years of domestication with humans. One key way dogs seem ‘almost human’ is through their expressive facial muscles and ability to make eye contact. According to a study by Kaminski et al. (https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01678), dogs have evolved muscles around their eyes, eyebrows and mouths specifically to allow for complex facial expressions that communicate with humans. Dogs are also able to follow human eye gaze and understand pointing gestures in a way that other species like chimpanzees cannot.
In addition to communicating through eye contact and facial expressions, dogs seem almost human in their ability to experience complex emotions like jealousy, empathy, and attachment. Research shows dogs have the same hormone oxytocin involved in bonding, trust, and intimacy in relationships that humans do. This allows dogs to form deep connections and experience love with their human and canine companions. Overall, dogs’ co-evolution with humans has shaped their communication abilities and emotional intelligence in surprisingly human-like ways.
The Role of Oxytocin in Dog-Human Bonds
Oxytocin plays a key role in promoting bonding, trust, and empathy between dogs and humans. When a dog and owner have positive interactions together, such as petting, playing, or snuggling, both experience an oxytocin surge (Marshall-Pescini, 2019). This “love hormone” helps facilitate attachment and affection in dog-human relationships.
Studies show that physical contact between dogs and their owners causes an increase in oxytocin levels in both species. Dog owners interacting with or just gazing at their dogs exhibit higher oxytocin levels, which correlates with lower cortisol and greater benefits to cardiovascular health (Petersson, 2017).
The oxytocin feedback loop allows dogs and humans to reinforce caring behaviors and empathy toward one another. As pack animals, dogs are predisposed to bond with humans, especially when we provide food, shelter, and affection. Oxytocin motivates this symbiotic relationship on both sides (Kikusui, 2019).
While dogs experience an innate attachment to humans through domestication, oxytocin also enables them to detect human emotions, read nonverbal cues, and show compassion. This hormone likely played a key role in how dogs evolved an ability to communicate with people over thousands of years.
In summary, research indicates oxytocin facilitates the profound social and emotional connections between dogs and humans. Our relationships with canine companions thrive on this biological tendency to care for each other.
The Many Jobs and Roles Dogs Play in Human Society
Dogs work in a variety of essential jobs and roles in human society. Some of the main ways dogs assist humans include:
Service dogs help people with disabilities live more independent lives. They can perform tasks like guiding the blind, alerting the deaf, pulling wheelchairs, reminding people to take medication, and more (source).
Therapy dogs provide comfort and affection to people in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and other facilities. Interacting with therapy dogs has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and loneliness.
Police dogs aid law enforcement through tracking suspects, detecting illegal substances, finding missing people, and protecting officers during high risk operations (source).
Hunting dogs such as hounds, retrievers, and terriers help hunters locate and retrieve game. Different breeds have instincts for different hunting tasks based on their history.
Detection dogs use their powerful sense of smell to sniff out explosives, illegal drugs, wildlife scat, missing people, invasive plants/insects, mobile phones in prisons, and even diseases like cancer and COVID-19.
Beyond specific working roles, dogs also provide loyal companionship, comfort, friendship, and unconditional love to millions of households. Their close bonds with humans positively impact both physical and mental health.
How Dogs Have Evolved to Better Communicate With Humans
Dogs and humans have developed an incredible ability to communicate effectively with each other. Research has shown that dogs are uniquely skilled at understanding human gestures, words, and emotional cues due to evolutionary changes and selective breeding by humans over thousands of years.
One study found that dogs have specific facial muscles that allow them to make ‘puppy dog eyes’ expressions that appeal to humans (Worsmann, 2019[1]). Dogs are also able to understand hundreds of human words and gestures, even from a young age. Puppies only a few weeks old with limited human contact have been found to understand pointing gestures and other commands, suggesting this ability is innate in dogs (Pilley, 2021[2]).
Additionally, dogs have evolved an astute ability to read human emotional cues and body language. Studies show dogs recognize human facial expressions, can sense human emotions like fear and anxiety through odor cues, and respond appropriately through modified behavior (Albuquerque, 2016[3]).
Through selective breeding and domestication over thousands of years, dogs have developed an exceptional interspecies communication ability with humans. This complex two-way communication helps build the strong relationship between dogs and their human owners.
The Positive Impacts of Dog Ownership on Human Health
There is extensive research showing that owning a dog can provide significant benefits to human health and wellbeing. Studies have consistently found that dog owners tend to have lower levels of stress, anxiety and depression compared to non-dog owners. For example, a study by the American Kennel Club showed that interacting with dogs leads to increased levels of oxytocin, serotonin and dopamine – neurotransmitters associated with bonding, pleasure and mood regulation. This is likely one factor contributing to the mood-enhancing effects of dog ownership.
Dogs also provide valuable social support and companionship, which helps combat loneliness and social isolation. Research has shown that the social facilitation and initiation provided by dogs increases social engagement and socialization amongst dog owners. For elderly individuals and those living alone, dog ownership can be especially impactful in reducing feelings of loneliness and providing a sense of purpose.
Additionally, multiple studies have indicated that dog owners tend to engage in more frequent exercise and outdoor activities. Taking dogs for walks or playing fetch requires physical movement and time outdoors, both of which have positive effects on human health. In a 2015 study published in PMC, researchers found that adults who owned dogs exercised more frequently than non-dog owners. The health benefits of increased movement and time in nature highlight another advantage of dog ownership for humans.
The Ethics Around Dog Breeding and Training
Some argue dog breeding should focus more on health than looks. According to a 2021 study, certain breeds are prone to health issues due to selective breeding for aesthetic preferences rather than health and function (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7895348/). There is debate around the ethics of creating dog breeds based solely on their appearance without considering potential health consequences.
Training methods for dogs also range widely, from rewards to dominance to more controversial punishments. According to a 2020 study, methods using mostly positive punishment and negative reinforcement (aversive-based) can have negative impacts compared to positive reinforcement (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33326450/). There is increasing advocacy around more humane approaches that emphasize positive reinforcement.
Philosophical Views on Dog-Human Relationships
Philosophers have increasingly examined the ethical dimensions of dog-human relationships. There is a growing view that dogs should be seen as family members with intrinsic worth beyond utility, not merely as servants or property (1). Dogs are cooperative companions that have evolved alongside humans over thousands of years, forming deep social bonds and demonstrating emotional intelligence (2). As such, the traditional dog-master hierarchy is being questioned by some modern philosophers.
Many now argue that dogs deserve respect and ethical treatment, with their interests given equal consideration to human interests in areas like training methods and quality of life (3). Rather than dominating dogs, humans should aim for harmony and a mutually fulfilling relationship. This reflects a shift away from an instrumentalist view of dogs solely as workers or pets, towards a view of dogs as sentient beings deserving of dignity.
However, debates continue over issues like selective breeding, with some arguing that practices like breeding brachycephalic (flat-faced) dogs should be restricted on ethical grounds, while others defend purebred breeding traditions. Overall though, there is an increasing philosophical concern for canine welfare and respect for the intrinsic nature of dogs within ethical dog-human bonds.
(1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human%E2%80%93canine_bond
(2) https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.584037
(3) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4348122/
The Future of Dog-Human Relationships
As technology continues to advance, dogs’ roles in human society will likely evolve as well. Dogs may be increasingly used to interface with technology, from service dogs that can activate home devices for people with disabilities, to dogs equipped with cameras and sensors for search and rescue work (Cameron, 2022). We may also see more advanced robotics shaped like dogs for companionship or home security. Though robotic dogs lack the authenticity of a living animal, they point towards deep human desires for canine connection.
There is also growing research on dog emotions, intelligence, and capabilities. Dogs display human-like social skills and even have specialized brain regions for processing faces, indicating co-evolution with humans (Miklósi and Topál, 2013). Understanding dogs’ emotional lives can enable better training practices and strengthen legal protections. Some experts argue dogs should have limited “personhood” rights given their sentience and reliance on humans (Pierce, 2016).
Overall, the dog-human bond seems likely to strengthen. With emerging research and technology paired with ethical considerations for canine welfare, we may be entering an unprecedented era of interspecies communication and compassion.
Sources:
Cameron, D. (2022). How Tech Is Prodding, Poking and Pushing the Future of Dog-Human Relationships. IEEE Spectrum, 59(1), 26-31. https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/9662719
Miklósi, Á., & Topál, J. (2013). What does it take to become ‘best friends’? Evolutionary changes in canine social competence. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 17(6), 287-294. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S136466131300068X
Pierce, J. (2016). Run, Spot, Run: The Ethics of Keeping Pets. University of Chicago Press.
Key Takeaways on the Dog-Human Bond
The relationship between humans and dogs is truly remarkable in its depth and complexity. Over thousands of years of evolution together, dogs and people have developed an unparalleled connection based on loyalty, affection, and mutual understanding.
Dogs have an incredible ability to read human emotions and cues. Their natural skills for interacting with people allowed them to take on specialized roles like guides, rescuers, workers, and more. They light up our lives as loyal companions and cherished family members.
In return, humans provide dogs with care, training, play, love, and belonging. Studies show dogs can improve human health through reduced stress, increased exercise, and emotional bonds. The dog-human relationship reveals the profound impact social animals can have on human lives.
As two highly social species, humans and dogs seem almost made for each other. Our intertwined evolution has built a foundation of trust, while our roles in each other’s lives continue to expand and evolve. The dog-human connection will likely only grow stronger over time as we learn more about each other.