It’s a topic that can be spoken about for a long time, and is always in the circuit of conversation when talking about animals and their relationship to humans. Man’s best friend is the dog, and it is as undeniable as the sky being blue. This relationship is historically one of the most unbreakable in the animal world. We are both social creatures, and in many ways fill a void for one another. Creating bonds that last more than a lifetime. Dogs are able to forgive and literally forget, but remember the importance you have in their lives. They are there for you on your bad and good days, and we are there to hold their paws in the bad times as well. Though they are domesticated to depend on us completely, in so many ways we depend on them more. Their support and loyalty is not something that cannot be described without knowing the feeling yourself.

Firstly, let’s cover a small history on the relationship, with the help of The Dog People:

The friendship between dog and man dates back to 15,000 years when dogs, who originated from a common ancestor, followed man throughout his migrations in East Asia. Psychologically, this connection makes sense because both man and dog are social beings. Neither can thrive when alone, and both benefit mentally (and often physically) from such a strong bond. Having a dog at home gives us a listening ear, a warm paw to hold, and even strong legs to run beside.

Having a dog as our companion benefits us in many ways. Arguably the biggest way is simply that they are a companion, someone to talk to and hang out with on our more lonely days. They also offer us an excuse to get outside and be active, as they need this mental and physical stimulation often more than we do. We can certainly help with this aspect for those dogs that we just cant keep up with.

This blog will have to become a sequel, as there is just so much to cover! Perhaps next week, we will talk about service dogs and how a dogs companionship has become so much more to those in need.