Do Dogs Fall in Love?

Do dogs fall in love? It’s a question you might ask yourself as you watch your pupper frolic around with their furry friends or when you’re curled up with your furbaby watching Lady & the Tramp.

If there is such a thing as doggy love, what does it look like? Does it come in different forms? And what do our dog’s wild ancestors reveal about the romances of the canine family?

In this article, we’re taking a look at whether our furry friends can fall in love!

Can dogs feel love?

As a Dog Owner, you already know the answer to this question: Absolutely! Not only can dogs feel love, but they seem to do so with the force of a thousand tail wags! Dogs have the ability to show devotion, commitment, and care towards other dogs and their beloved humans. This is largely thanks to a particular hormone called oxytocin, a.k.a. the attachment hormone, which encourages bonding and familiarity.

In fact, loving isn’t something that doggos learn, it’s actually a key part of their survival. As social animals, dogs have a vested interest in finding love interests, and we humans are lucky enough to be on the receiving end of their undying affection for others.

But, if you really want to split hairs here, can dogs feel romantic love or is it more of a familial kind of bond? Most animal behaviourists would say it’s probably the latter. Don’t close the door on doggy love just yet, though! A closer look at wolf love might rekindle your hope that canine love exists.

What can wolf relationships tell us about our domesticated doggos?

Compared to the rest of the animal world, wolves are quite unique! Not only are they known to mate for life, but they are also often monogamous—two habits that generally go against natural tendencies towards having multiple mates, which encourages genetic variation.

For grey wolves, though, having a designated mating pair has some evolutionary advantages. On the one hand, mating for life can protect the pack against in-fighting and competition. And, limiting mating partners within a pack is a brilliant way to manage the number of mouths that will need feeding.

This basic structure, of course, does have some variation, with mating pairs occasionally straying outside of the relationship and interlopers wandering in to see whether they can kindle a flame with a pack member. Furthermore, widowed wolves can find new mates while unsuccessful breeding seasons can prompt a couple to call it quits. But in general, mating pairs stick together and they do so for life.

It may seem like a strategic coupling, but it’s clear that there is genuine affection and care involved, too! Mating partners go through a courting period and remain closely connected even when it’s not mating season.

So, what does this mean for a conversation about canine love? Well, considering that we humans define romantic love as a blend of attraction, care, affection, and devotion, it seems that our furry friends would be capable of forming similar bonds! They may not be writing love poems or giving each other elaborate gifts, but there’s no denying that canines form strong and lasting bonds that could be described as romantic.

Do dogs develop relationships?

Of course, dogs and wolves are very different animals. So, do dogs fall in love or form lasting relationships like their wolf ancestors?

Well, in our modern age, it’s hard to say! We don’t typically allow our dogs to choose their own mates or live out their natural instincts to form packs. And, because we tend to desex many of our dogs, they may not experience the full chemical experience of coupling like their wild relatives do.

But, can they form lasting friendships? Absolutely! You might have seen your dog perk up when they realised their bestie was at the dog park. Maybe they pull their friendly Dog Walker to the house where their favourite playmate lives. And, if you live in a multi-dog household, then you’ve probably witnessed long-term relationship building in action. Here are a few ways that you can know that your dog has bonded with another pupper:

They enjoy each other’s company. Furry friends typically make for great playmates and will romp around happily any time they get the chance. Dogs who spend a great amount of time together can often also be found snuggling and keeping each other warm.

They look out for one another. Just like your dog can turn into a fierce protector when they sense that their beloved human is in danger, they’re also willing to step up for their furry friends in times of need. Sometimes, this will mean joining a chorus of barking to ward off danger, or devotedly staying by the side of a sick or injured friend until they’ve recovered.

They are uneasy or sad when they’re away from their bestie for too long. Dogs who spend most of their time together are especially likely to show signs of sadness and loneliness when their bestie is away. Of course, part of this is the fact that dogs are sensitive to changes in their normal routine. But, that doesn’t mean that they don’t genuinely enjoy having their furry family member around.

They experience grief at the passing of a friend. When a dog loses a close loved one, they often show many of the behaviour changes that we would associate with grief. They may experience a decrease in appetite and desire to play, or act out in unexpected ways such as peeing in the house or tearing up the furniture. While we can’t know whether dogs fully understand death, it’s clear that they experience painful emotions when their buddy is no longer around.

Whether you’ve got a doggo who makes friends with a wide range of puppers or your dog is more selective, almost all dogs form friendships. And, even though they may not share a plate of pasta like in Lady & the Tramp or go on adventures like the pack in Paw Patrol, it’s obvious that they can form meaningful relationships!