In a research National Geographic explored how deeply intertwined dogs and humans have become through thousands of years of evolution and emotional connection. Domestic dogs are not just companions; they actively engage our caregiving instincts similarly to human babies.

Brain imaging studies show that when pet owners look at their dogs, the same neural regions involved in parent-child attachment—like the amygdala and hippocampus. This isn’t just about perception: both dogs and humans experience surges in oxytocin when they gaze at or cuddle each other, reinforcing a powerful bond rooted in biology .

Dogs have also evolved physically and behaviorally to seek out and maintain human attention—think expressive faces, big eyes, and responsiveness to our cues—traits shaped over millennia of domestication. They understand their owners’ emotions, follow their gaze, and even choose to avoid people who mistreat them, showing a level of social awareness once thought unique to humans. As a result, many of us treat dogs like family—providing them with daycare, clothes, insurance, and vacations, as the become beloved members of the household.

However this relationship goes two ways, as dogs don’t just need us but fulfill innate emotional and social needs in humans, and we owe them a bond that is richer, more reciprocal, and more biologically profound than we might realize.

http://5. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/do-dogs-need-people

Cite: National Geographic, Journal, online, Auth. Tina Deines, June 10, 2025