Most breeds of dogs (but not all) are really built for affection. Dogs love dogs and they love humans. And sometimes dogs love very specific humans. Sometimes dogs bond very strongly to one human in particular. So how does this work? How do dogs pick their favorite human?
And is there anything you can do to kinda… stack the deck in your favor? (The answer is yes.)
At a very fundamental genetic level, of course, dogs are going to like being around people who supply them with their basic needs: food, water, and safety.
But beyond that, they are also capable of emotions (if you have a dog, you know this). And sure, they feel the things you’d expect pretty much any animal to feel in terms of survival – fear, excitement, anger, and anxiety. But they also feel joy, contentment, and yes, love.
Love… that is where you come in. Or at least, that’s where you want to come in.
How dogs pick their favorite human
Attention
Duh, right? This applies to humans, too. We love being paid attention to. Even if we’re shy or introverted, we still want to be noticed and seen. Humans are mirroring and community animals. As are dogs.
They’re social animals. It’s part of their survival genetics. Packs do better than solitaries. You will become part of their pack.
Positive attention
This seems like a no brainer, but a lot of people focus so much on disciplining that this can get lost. (Again, like with humans.) But a dog is going to favor a human who does fun things with them, is playful, goes on long walks, pets them, brushes them, gives them treats.
This doesn’t mean there can’t be discipline, but positive reinforcement based discipline and training methods are going to get you the best results and will bond your dog to you in a healthy and happy way.
Well timed socialization
This is often why people “prefer” puppies. It’s those first few months where a dog is learning how to socialize, and getting them young means that you’re part of that. Bad habits are harder to break than good habits are to build. (Go here for tips when socializing an older dog.)
Signs that you are the chosen one
Dogs are pretty obvious about who they favor but their behaviors can include the following:
- They follow you from room to room. You know… you can barely go to the bathroom without them.
- They get super excited when you get home. Lots of tail wagging and maybe even some jumping up.
- They might make nests for themselves out of any of your clothing they can get their paws/mouth on.
- It doesn’t take a food treat to get them excited: just the sound of your voice does it.
- They might show signs of jealousy if you’re paying attention to another animal – or a human, for that matter.
- They might show signs of aggression and protection if they sense you’re in any kind of trouble. Even if someone just raises their voice at you.
- They paw and lick you.
- They sleep next to you.
- They seem to know your schedule. (No “seem to…” They do.)
- They make frequent eye contact and smile at you.
If you’re a dog’s favorite, you are one lucky human. (If you’re looking for a new canine friend, check out Sundance Retrievers’ planned litters.)