Man’s best friend: Why are dogs so loyal?
The dog is often called man’s best friend, but why are dogs so loyal? One reason: they are pack animals and instinctively develop a close bond with their caregivers.
When it comes to why dogs are so loyal, there are several possible answers. On the one hand, dogs are pack animals and see humans as direct members of their families. On the other hand, the dog itself is a susceptible animal and shows clear signs of empathy.
The pack as a reference group for the dog
Loyalty within a pack is a survival instinct in the wild. However, the question of a dog’s loyalty cannot be answered quite so simply. The role as “food giver” and “pack leader” alone is probably not the reason for the joy that dogs display when “their” human comes home.
Dogs are affectionate animals.
On the contrary, various studies have already proven that dogs are not only empathetic to the behavior of humans but can also communicate with them to a certain degree. They understand verbal and physical gestures and can interpret them correctly. On the other hand, humans showed the ability to “read” their quadruped behavior and barking signs. Many studies consider this ability to communicate with each other as one of the main bases to answer why dogs are so loyal.
