Dogs are more than just pets—they’re like family, friends, and even kids to many people. But do our relationships with dogs truly resemble our bonds with humans? Researchers at ELTE Eötvös Loránd University wanted to find out by comparing human-dog relationships to human-human relationships using 13 different scales.

Their study uncovered some interesting findings. It turns out that the connection between dog owners and their furry companions can be seen as a mix of a parent-child relationship and a best friend bond. This means that while dogs offer the positive aspects of a child relationship and the absence of negative traits in friendship, there’s also a significant level of control on the owner’s part.

Surprisingly, even though dog owners often rate their relationship with their dog higher than any human connection, the study revealed that stronger human relationships corresponded to stronger bonds with their dogs. This suggests that dogs complement our human relationships rather than fill in their gaps.

Our connection with dogs has evolved over time, from working animals to beloved companions often treated as surrogate children in Western culture. Despite this shift, not much is known about the specific social roles dogs play in our lives compared to other human partners like children, romantic partners, and best friends.

Over 700 dog owners participated in the study and rated their relationships with their dogs along with four human counterparts. Results showed that owners found their bond with their dogs to be the most satisfying and their dogs to be their best source of companionship and love.

One key difference the researchers noted is the power dynamic in the relationship. Unlike with other humans, dog owners have full control over their dogs, making most decisions—which contributes to the high satisfaction reported by owners. This control, paired with minimal conflicts and negative interactions, makes the dog-owner relationship uniquely fulfilling.

This study sheds light on the special place dogs hold in our social world, offering emotional closeness, ease of companionship, and predictable relationships shaped by human control. By understanding how dogs fit into our lives, we can see why our connections with them are so deep and meaningful.