Can Dogs Have Best Friends?

I wouldn’t really consider my dog excitable by any stretch of the imagination. But there are two things I know that definitely make his tail wag: me coming home…and cheese. On our daily walks, we bump into the same owners and their dogs, and it got me wondering: does my dog have favourite friends amongst the dogs we regularly see? Does he get excited to see them, and does he think about them when he’s gone home, wondering when they’ll next meet?

Of course, being obsessed with my dog and wanting him to have the most fulfilling life, I set out to learn more about dog besties and what this can tell us not only about our own dogs but about the wider canine community and the strength of social interaction that exists beyond humans.

Is it a development of their pack mentality from years of hunting in the wild? Or is it simpler than that, and they’re just picking up on good vibes and want to share social experiences?

Absolutely! Similarly to us, dogs often form close and important bonds with other dogs throughout their entire lives, beginning very soon after birth with their littermates. Dogs are incredibly social animals that thrive on interaction, communication and companionship, both with one another and across other species. 

From an evolutionary standpoint, dogs have adapted to living in groups. And through domestication, they’ve opened up their social circles to include us and thus become man's best friends. But when we look at interpersonal dog relationships, they've always been important in a dog’s life, and best friends are no exception to this rule.

In 2017, National Geographic published research that shows some dogs actually have genetic variants that cause them to be exceptionally friendly and eager to connect with others. So whilst my Shiba Inu is naturally aloof and prefers 1:1 time with a dog, there are dogs out there that are constantly looking for new playmates like it’s their full-time job and thrive in larger groups. 

When it comes to thinking about canine best friends, it’s worth remembering that dogs have boundaries that need to be respected just like ours. Don’t ever force your dog to be friends with a dog just because you know the other dog or they belong to your friend. Like us, dogs have individual preferences and pushing them into friendships they’re not comfortable with can cause them to feel uncertain and anxious. 

Just like human friendships, dog friendships take a variety of forms. For some dogs, it's all about mutual preference. Some find one specific dog to hang out with and ignore all others nearby. Some are excitable and show real enthusiasm for an entire group after being apart for a while. And others are more nonchalant and will choose to rest near one another, share a bed, or even occasionally cuddle if they feel like it.

Shared play is also a huge part of dog friendship and often looks like wrestling, chasing or plain sniffing...usually of bums. You can generally see who a dog’s best friend is by how they react on initial meeting. Even if your dog has a friend who they don’t see very often, they’ll usually pick up right where they left off, showing you that they’re comfortable, relaxed and happy around one another and in each other's presence.

Though dogs can definitely share special bonds with one another, the truth is that you’re probably your dog’s best friend. Research says that a dog’s true best friend is often their primary caregiver (which, in all honesty, makes my heart melt). I spoke to canine behaviourist Junior Hudson from Companion Animal Wellness, who expanded on this, saying,

"Dogs absolutely form preferred relationships with particular dogs – you'll see it in who they choose to rest near, play with and greet first. However, their attachment to the human who cares for them is a different kind of bond. Research shows dogs use their caregiver as a 'secure base', much like a child does with a parent, so it's no surprise that person usually comes out on top."

Definitely. If there’s anything that research into dog besties has taught me, it’s that dogs thrive on having friends and creating social networks. Some might prefer just one dog friend who they attach themselves to, or they might prefer a bigger group. Just like how we have preferences on who we want to hang out with, dogs do too. 

And having a friend or two can be majorly beneficial to every aspect of their physical, mental and emotional well-being. So next time your dog is wagging their tail when they see a fellow dog friend, consider slowing down and taking the time to let them sniff, or setting up a playdate for them to continue to bond, after all that’s their bestie (second to you, of course).