How Dogs Choose Friends: The Unspoken Bond
The Significance of Friendship
As previously mentioned, friendship for humans is more than just the words "friend" or "friendship." For dogs, however, the concept of friendship is quite literal and straightforward, without any additional layers of meaning.
Dogs can befriend their own kind as well as humans, a capability that stems not only from their natural instincts but also from the selective breeding by our ancestors. This has allowed dogs that are more attuned to humans and their own species to thrive and continue to this day.
Do dogs understand what friendship is?
Absolutely, they do. And it's not just dogs; many animals possess the ability to form a variety of social bonds. Due to the similarity between the dog's brain and the human brain, dogs can befriend a wide range of animals, beyond just humans and their own kind.
Can offering food make someone a dog's friend?
Not necessarily. While dogs do remember who provides them with food, they also remember who is truly kind to them. So, you need not worry about being forgotten. How long can dogs remember their owners? There are many opinions internationally, and while there is no consensus, it is certain that dogs can remember their owners for a considerable period of time.
Let's get back to the topic at hand. If you want to become a friend to a dog that belongs to someone else, you need to go beyond just feeding it. Engaging in play, petting, and other activities is crucial. This way, the dog will remember you and consider you a friend.
How can you tell if a dog considers you a friend?
Dogs choose their friends through body language and also use it to greet their friends. This means you can discern whether a dog views you as a friend by observing its unique body language.
The most common gesture is the "play bow," where a dog brings its front paws close to the ground while raising its hindquarters and tail high. This is a greeting that is exclusive to friends. Strangers may also use this action to initiate a friendship.
There is also a less common gesture: a dog's tail may wag rapidly, and it might emit some distinctive sounds, along with a bit of restlessness.
