Men or Women: Who Gets Along Better With Dogs?

Written and verified by the lawyer Francisco María García

Last update: 18 November, 2023

Since prehistoric times, humans have tried to tame different species in the animal kingdom. However, the only kind of animal that has shown total submission has been dogs. Since dogs descended from their ancestors, the wolves, they have become unconditional companions for humans. But does gender have anything to do with it? Do men and women get along equally well with canines? Discover the answers here.

A unique relationship…

For many people, dogs are more than just a pet. These special animals don’t feel hate or resentment, and they forgive easily. They love their owner regardless of his or her imperfections.

Experts have shown that dogs understand humans, whether they be men or women. But if you separate humans by gender, you might wonder who gets along better with dogs. And, also, who understands dogs better?

Men or women, who love canine pets more?

According to one study undertaken by the University of Hungary and published by the Royal Society Open Science magazine, women actually understand “man’s best friend” better than men.

The explanation for this result may have its basis in feminine instincts. These instincts give a woman the ability to understand certain animal sounds better than men. One example of a woman’s instinct is if a woman’s baby cries; she can tell what the cry means and what she should do.

Experts carried out different tests in the study mentioned above. These tests used 40 men and 40 women. The experts got them to listen to a series of recordings of dogs growling, howling and crying. After that, the test subjects had to decide what the dog was feeling when it made each sound.

The options that the men and women in the test could choose

The survey had these possible answers:

• Fear
• Anger
• Hunger
• Desperation
• Joy
• Wanting to play

Test results

The women in the survey achieved a high accuracy. Their answers were correct 80% of the time for ‘wanting to play’. They were also correct 60% of the time for ‘hunger’ and 50% for ‘fear’. These results were much higher than those of the men in the survey.

The dog as an agent of peace when facing domestic violence

The connection that dogs have with women goes deeper than just a simple friendship. You can see an example of this in the situation of domestic or gender-based violence in Spain. Although there have been significant advancements made in the area of domestic violence, whether these be through sanctions, education, policing, etc, there is still a long way to go.

The number of restraining orders that have been put in place by women in Spain now total more than 168,000. Some foundations, such as The Escan Project, in Valencia, Spain, have proposed training dogs to help to reduce violence against women.

We could take advantage of the close relationship between dogs and women to reduce incidents of gender-based violence. In this scenario, the physical strength of certain breeds of dog could be put to good use.

Of course, in any case, the effectiveness of this scheme would be affected by the degree of devotion the dog felt for the woman. This would depend on the amount of love the woman showed for her pet, and how much time she spent with them.

Conclusions from the different studies on men and women

Women achieve higher marks than men in the degree of affection in their relationship with dogs. Among other things, this is because they are generally more affectionate and tend to give their pets treats and gifts more often.

Women that don’t have children tend to be closer to their dog on an emotional level. The studies show that women commonly make up for the absence of children by being more than normally affectionate with their pet. Of course, if someone is in that situation, they should make sure that they avoid humanizing their pets to an excessive degree.

The bond between a dog and its owners

The physical and psychological benefits that a pet can give are well known. Pets help us to reduce stress and anxiety levels. There are even experts who insist that people that have dogs are less likely to suffer from heart conditions.

Statistically, according to several studies, many people that live on their own are perfectly happy with a pet by their side.

What is the basis for the strong bond between dogs and humans? Trust. The owner or master has to gain its dog’s trust. The same as with humans, a dog’s trust can be difficult to gain. And, of course, it can be lost a lot easier than it can be gained.

The bonds between a dog and its owner can be physical or emotional

A physical bond consists of the animal viewing its master as a provider of its physical needs. The owner gives it what it needs to eat, drink, be comfortable and warm, etc.

An emotional bond is a little more complex. One way to form a bond of this type can be by means of playtime and games. Playtime between the owner and their dog can also be related to obedience and teaching new things to their dog.

There’s no doubt that whether it’s with men or women, strong bonds of friendship can be forged with pets, which is beneficial to both parties.