From the undeniable bond between us to the dogs that look like us, our relationship with canines has existed for millennia in one form or another. But what is it about this bond that continues to endure and how does it improve our lives?
Thousands of years ago, dogs (and cats for that matter, but we’ll leave talking about our feline friends for the next time they knock a vase off the dining table) were viewed as deities in ancient Egypt, and dogs were also viewed this way in Mayan and Greek civilisations. Some were known as Death Dogs in Egypt, a role that involved aiding in a human’s transition to the afterlife, either by accompanying and therefore guiding the deceased or by guarding the realm that was believed to lie ahead, both examples of the traits in our relationship that continue today.
The closeness between humans and dogs is believed to come from the days of hunting for food, when wolves recognised that humans had the same objective and began to work with our species to hunt together. Eventually wolves evolved into the canines we know today but the relationship between our two species endured.
These days our relationship with dogs is not as different as we might think. Taking your best friend for a walk in the park armed with a plastic bag for their ‘business’ isn’t exactly glamorous, but it does show we still hold these creatures in high regard in one way or another. The companionship we share with dogs is undeniable and studies show their company also improves our overall wellbeing.
A 2012 study by Frontiers Psychology in the US found that dogs can help decrease depression through the ways that they force you to engage with society. For one, they need to be walked, and there is no better way to get you out of the house than having someone else who is dependent on you for their own health and wellbeing.
Giving them exercise means you get exercise too, which boosts endorphins, one of the ‘happy’ chemicals your body needs to decrease depression as well as stress and anxiety. Being out and about also increases your chances of having a chat with another dog walker while you’re on your journey and socialising helps reduce loneliness (believe it or not, fellow introverts).
But what about the dogs that look like us, or in fact the ones that don’t? While this bond doesn’t limit us to a particular breed, there is often something rather entertaining about a big person with a small dog, something I came to realise as a six-foot-eight man, walking my friend’s Sydney Silky Griffon Cross.
As for the dogs who do bear a striking resemblance to their owners, perhaps this just goes to highlight the strength and continued relevance of this bond. Whatever the case might be, one thing is certain: we will always be our dog’s best friend, and they will always be ours.
