We pour our hearts into our dogs. They share every aspect of our lives: they lounge on our couches, follow us around the house, and sometimes even curl up in our beds. Many dog owners go above and beyond, splurging on premium health insurance for their furry companions, wheeling them around in strollers, or enrolling them in luxury doggie daycare. It’s no secret that we, as dog owners, shower our pets with love and care. But a lingering question remains: do they love us back?
According to Sonia Charry, a large-dog expert in Scottsdale, Arizona, the answer is a definitive yes. “Dogs definitely feel love,” she explains. “A dog’s sense of love may not be as complex as a human adult’s, but it’s no different than the love of a two-year-old child.” In other words, just as a young child hasn’t developed the capacity for complex emotions but still feels genuine affection, dogs too are capable of love. They may not understand the full depth of what love entails, but they certainly experience a form of it.
This sentiment is echoed by millions of dog owners worldwide. It’s hard to argue that the wagging tail, excited barks, and joyful dances that greet us at the door—even if we’ve only been gone for five minutes—aren’t expressions of love. Yet, is this purely a survival instinct rooted in their ancestry, or is it something more? Wild dogs rely on strong bonds for survival, forming packs where they respect and protect one another. In a pack, those behaviors we might call “love” could actually stem from respect and hierarchy. Dr. Bonnie Beaver, D.V.M., executive director of the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, explains that within a pack, what we might view as love is often more about maintaining social order. “Respect for social rank helps ensure the pack’s survival,” she says. “That respect can easily be mistaken for what we call love.”
But when it comes to domesticated dogs and their relationships with humans, the lines blur. The bond between a dog and its human companion often surpasses mere survival. In the comfort of modern homes, dogs aren’t concerned about pack hierarchies in the same way their wild ancestors were. Instead, they seem to form emotional attachments to the people who care for them.
Do Dogs Really Love Humans?
It’s easy to find heartwarming examples of dogs displaying what appears to be love. Social media is filled with videos of dogs greeting soldiers who’ve been deployed for months, snuggling up with orphaned kittens, or standing vigil over the body of a deceased companion. These scenes tug at our hearts, but are they proof that dogs truly love us in the way we think of love?
Terri Jay, a pet psychic from Reno, Nevada, believes that dogs exhibit a type of love that surpasses human love in some ways. “Dogs love unconditionally,” she says. “They don’t care how we look, how much money we have, or how we treat them. Their love is pure. It’s unconditional, and I think that’s the purest form of love.”
While we can’t ask our dogs if they love us, the behaviors they display can certainly suggest deep emotional bonds. Service dogs, for instance, go above and beyond to support their human companions, often putting their own safety on the line to protect and aid them. Therapy dogs are famous for their ability to sense distress and provide comfort, even when no commands are given. These behaviors don’t stem from a place of mere survival—they seem to indicate something much deeper.
Kimberly Gauthier, a blogger in, Washington, shared a personal story about her dogs sensing her emotional distress. “I was having a really bad day and decided to take a walk in the woods to clear my head. Without prompting, my three dogs ran after me. They found me sitting on a log, crying, and one by one, they leaned against me, offering comfort. It was as if they knew I needed them in that moment.” For Gauthier, her dogs’ actions weren’t simply about survival. They were offering genuine emotional support—something that sounds very much like love.
Skeptics might argue that dogs are simply conditioned to respond in ways that benefit their own well-being. For example, a dog may comfort its owner to ensure that the “leader of the pack” remains strong. After all, if the leader falters, the entire pack could suffer. But even this could be interpreted as a form of love. Love, in any form, is often about connection and maintaining bonds, whether for emotional fulfillment or survival.
Do Some Dogs Love More Than Others?
There are a number of theories surrounding whether certain types of dogs may be more affectionate or loving than others. Some believe that male dogs are more affectionate than females, while others argue that specific breeds are naturally more inclined to be cuddly and emotionally attached. For example, Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers are often described as being especially loving and friendly. However, anyone who’s owned multiple dogs can tell you that these traits can vary widely from dog to dog, even within the same breed.
A belief that seems to have some legs is the idea that rescue dogs or dogs who’ve faced trauma may be more loving or loyal. Dogs that have been rescued from difficult situations often display a level of attachment that some describe as “gratitude.” Sonia Charry acknowledges that it can sound anthropomorphic to suggest that dogs can feel gratitude, but there’s certainly something to be said for the depth of bonds formed after hardship. “Rescue dogs have a different breadth of experience compared to dogs who have only known comfort and security,” she says. “Their experience shapes their emotions, just like a person who has been through struggles might develop a deeper understanding of love.”
Many rescue dog owners will tell you that their dogs seem to understand that they’ve been given a second chance, and they repay that kindness with unwavering loyalty. Some say that rescue dogs never forget the person who saved them, forming an unbreakable bond.
Can Dogs Love Other Animals?
Beyond their relationships with humans, dogs are also capable of forming deep attachments to other animals, even those of different species. Stories abound of dogs befriending cats, rabbits, or even more exotic animals. One famous example is the bond between Bella, a dog, and Tarra, an elephant, whose friendship captivated millions.
Psychologist Pia Salk, spokeswoman for Adopt-a-Pet.com, believes that dogs are naturally equipped to express love and compassion toward other creatures. “Dogs have an innate ability to live in the moment and display emotions without the baggage of self-consciousness or past experiences that often clouds human relationships,” Salk explains. “They don’t worry about how they’re perceived. They just love freely and honestly.”
Living in the moment is part of what allows dogs to form these unique bonds, unencumbered by the complexities that human relationships often face. Unlike humans, dogs don’t fear rejection or overthink the consequences of expressing affection. This allows them to form deep, loving bonds—whether with humans, other dogs, or even animals like elephants—that appear pure and uncomplicated.
In many ways, dogs seem to love with a simplicity that humans strive to achieve but often fail to fully grasp. Their openness to forming bonds with a wide range of creatures, and their unreserved displays of affection, remind us that love doesn’t always need to be complicated.
