Why a Dog is a Man’s Best Friend

Man’s best friend (essay)

Big, small, fluffy, yappy, shy, or energetic, is this how you describe your best friend? When it comes to animals the one that comes to mind as a best friend usually is a dog, but why? Dogs are animals that sniff objects and play fetch. Meanwhile, humans have jobs, are educated, and play sports. So then why do our minds immediately associate dogs with being our best friends? This essay will show how a dog is a man’s best friend because of similarities between the two species, a mutual understanding of each other, and cooperation from both parties.

Dogs and humans get along so well because of their similarities in interests and needs. It is obvious that no single person or animal can live on the planet without water or food. Most dogs and people enjoy meat or any food in general. Still, today dogs and humans enjoy the same food. This also causes them to stay by our sides from history to now. “These famous prehistoric rock paintings in Algeria show that dogs have been by humans’ side for many, many years” (Lopata). Humans and dogs are not just similar in diet and appetite, but they are also similar biologically. According to Stanley, “Dogs have the same brain structures that produce emotions in humans” (Stanley). This fact is supported by a study done by Sifferlin where dogs and humans were tested to see if they had similar reactions to certain sounds (Sifferlin). Researchers found that, “Similar regions of the brain lit up for dogs and humans when they listened to similar sounds…There were also similarities in brain reactions in response to the sounds” (Sifferlin). Humankind’s ability to build a stronger bond with dogs can be in due part to the similar diets and appetites, but is also supported by the anatomical similarities between the two species.

This special connection between man and canine is further supported by the abilities of dogs to understand human emotions, allowing them to connect with us on a deeper level. Multiple tests have been done by researchers with how dogs react to different emotions to show if they can read our emotions (Sifferlin). The data collected from these tests concluded that not only are dogs able to read human emotions, but that, “dogs acquired the ability to read human facial expressions as they adapted to live with us” (Baraniuk). Having a dog that can read your emotion is basically having a best friend always knowing how you feel. A dog is the most considered animal as a best friend because they understand how we feel. ‘Dogs can recognize emotions in humans by combining information from different senses” (“Dogs Recognize” 11). Dogs have multiple senses like we do, and use them to observe our behavior and see how we are feeling. “…dogs can mentally recognize positive and negative emotional states of others” (“Dogs” 11). When dogs recognize our emotions it is because they, “must form abstract mental representations of positive and negative emotional states” (“Dogs” 11). They take the time to understand how we feel to know what to do next. Dogs are man’s best friend because they know when to come and comfort us when we need them because they can read and understand our emotions. Their ability to read our emotions is on a level that many other animals do not come near.

Not only do dogs understand our emotions and are physically compatible to us, but they can play a large role in our daily lives. There are dogs such as service dogs, sheepdogs, and rescue dogs that are bred and trained to perform certain tasks in order to assist humans. Service dogs are a great examples because they provide constant help and companionship to disabled individuals. Service dogs can perform a variety of tasks from giving comfort to those with anxiety or opening doors for the disabled. Sheepdogs are another great example because they help gather sheep and make sure they do not run off. “Working sheepdogs can remember hundreds of complicated commands” says Ash. These wonderful helpful dogs came from one place before and that would be wolves. From being a wild wolf to becoming a dog, they have learned to understand multiple different commands. “Chaser is a smart border collie who has learned the names of hundreds of different toys. In one test, she was asked to fetch a toy with a name she hadn’t heard before. She went to her pile of old toys and found a new toy there. She hadn’t been taught the name of the new toy. But she figured out that the new word must go with the new toy–and fetched it” (Ash). Dogs are smart and if given time they are a helpful hand. One way they were used in history were as protectors for rulers and used as sacrifices sometimes (Baggaley 20-21). Dogs are capable of many things that can make our lives easier, they adapt to our lives (Lynn). A man’s best friend is considered a dog because they are able to help more than some other animals can. You don’t see a bird opening doors or a guinea pig helping a farmer, dogs on the other hand are beneficial.

A dog and a human have biological similarities, the ability to read and respond to human emotions, and their ability to assist human beings in a variety of jobs are just a few reasons why dogs are considered a man’s best friend. Dogs aren’t perfect, but neither are people. Dogs will always be there for humans. Other animals might be comforting, but aren’t as reliable. A man’s best friend is a title given to dogs because even with their flaws they turnout as paws of joy.

Works Cited

1. Lopata, L. (2020). Dogs Have Been Humans' Best Friends for 20,000 Years, According to Artifacts. Mental Floss. Retrieved from https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/628138/prehistoric-rock-paintings-show-dogs-have-been-humans-best-friends-20000-years
2. Stanley, C. (2017). 8 Reasons Why Dogs Are Called ‘Man’s Best Friend’. Canine Weekly. Retrieved from https://canineweekly.com/why-are-dogs-called-mans-best-friend/
3. Sifferlin, A. (2016). Why Dogs Really Are Man's Best Friend: They Help Reading Emotions. Time. Retrieved from https://time.com/4438043/dogs-reading-emotions/
4. Baraniuk, C. (2016). How dogs read our moods: Emotion detector found in Fido's brain. New Scientist. Retrieved from https://www.newscientist.com/article/2106855-how-dogs-read-our-moods-emotion-detector-found-in-fidos-brain/
5. "Dogs Recognize Our Emotions, Study Finds." Science Daily. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2016/03/160330082212.htm
6. Ash, R. (2015). Inside Your Dog's Mind. National Geographic. Retrieved from https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/inside-your-dogs-mind
7. Baggaley, K. (2018). Why Are Dogs Called 'Man's Best Friend'? Live Science. Retrieved from https://www.livescience.com/63284-why-are-dogs-called-mans-best-friend.html
8. Lynn, J. (2019). Why Dogs Are Considered Man's Best Friend. The Spruce Pets. Retrieved from https://www.thesprucepets.com/why-are-dogs-considered-mans-best-friend-4841816
9. "Man's Best Friend: Dog Becomes Baby's Best Friend!" Animal Planet. Retrieved from https://www.animalplanet.com/tv-shows/man-best-friend-dog-becomes-babys-best-friend
10. "Dogs: Man's Best Friend." American Kennel Club. Retrieved from https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/why-dogs-are-mans-best-friend/