Originally published 2019-07-30.
Do dog owners really kiss their dogs more than their partners? According to a 2019 survey of American dog owners by Riley's Organics, a US maker of organic dog treats, a slim majority said yes: 52% admitted giving their dog more kisses than their romantic partner. The same survey found that 61% kiss their dog on the mouth, 52% would rather share a bed with the dog than with a partner, and 94% count their dog among their best friends.
The results were picked up in July 2019 by People, ABC and Fox News, and they spread quickly because so many readers recognised themselves in them. It is worth keeping the source in mind, though. This was a brand survey, not a peer-reviewed study, and the published coverage gave no sample size or method. The numbers are a fun snapshot of how some owners talk about their dogs, not a measure of how couples behave.
What does hold up is the deeper point: the bond between people and dogs is real, mutual and well studied. Below are the photos that illustrated the story, including several famous dog lovers, followed by reader comments and a short look at what research says about affection between species.
What the survey actually found
Riley's Organics asked owners across the United States how much affection they give their dogs. Coverage at the time reported the headline findings in slightly different ways: ABC described the 94% figure as owners who consider their dog "one of their best friends", while Fox News framed the same number as owners who would rather stay home with the dog than go out with a friend. Either way, the message was consistent. For most respondents, the dog is family.
The 52% figure is a narrow majority, and a self-reported one. People tend to answer playful questions playfully, and kissing a dog on the head twenty times a day is not the same thing as a kiss shared between partners. The survey says more about how freely people show affection to pets than about anyone's relationship.
Owners and their dogs
A German Shepherd plants a kiss on its owner in the middle of an office, with bookshelves behind them. Shepherds are often stereotyped as reserved working dogs, but this one clearly reads the moment as an invitation. Photo: Ieva Budzeikaitė.
A small, fluffy dog in a red harness gets a two-handed cuddle at an outdoor café. Small breeds are often carried and held close, which makes face-to-face affection part of daily life. Photo: Marija Bernatonytė.
Two frames show a black dog leaning in to lick its owner's face. Licking is a natural greeting and bonding behaviour in dogs, which puppies first direct at their mothers. Photo: Inga Korolkovaitė.
A Bernese Mountain Dog puppy looks up adoringly as its owner bends down on a sunny balcony. Puppies of large breeds grow fast, so these face-level moments do not last long. Photo shared with the original survey story; photographer not named.
Owner and dog lie on a cool tiled floor together, which is how many summer afternoons end in a dog household. Lying down at a dog's level is one of the easiest ways to invite relaxed contact. Photo: Viktorija Gabulaitė.
Famous dog lovers
Actor Tom Hardy hugs a pit bull puppy in a photo shared by the fan account @tomwithdogs, which collects pictures of him with dogs. Photos of Hardy with dogs circulate widely online, and his obvious affection for them has become part of his public image.
Another image from the same fan account shows Hardy, dressed for a formal event, bending down to greet a dog that has jumped up to kiss him. Pictures like this are a big reason the account built a following. Credit: @tomwithdogs.
Chris Evans works at his laptop while his rescue dog, Dodger, watches from the next chair. Evans adopted Dodger from a shelter and frequently shares photos of him with fans. Source: Chris Evans on Twitter.
YouTuber Mark Fischbach, better known as Markiplier, holds his large pale dog like a baby while puckering up for a kiss. His dogs have appeared often in his posts and videos, much to his audience's delight. Source: Markiplier on Twitter.
What readers said
When the story was shared on social media, readers were quick to explain why their dogs get so many kisses. A selection of their comments follows.
The most liked reply treats the result as obvious: love for dogs is permanent, love for people comes and goes. More than a thousand reactions suggest the joke struck a chord.
This reader argues that dogs understand us and offer nothing but affection. It is a common feeling, and research on how dogs read human faces gives it some real backing.
An animal lover says no person could compete with her pets, so of course they get more kisses. Many owners describe their animals as the steadiest relationship in their lives.
Here the point is loyalty: people may leave, but the dog stays and comforts you when you cry. Dogs do respond to human distress, often by moving closer.
A short, cheerful agreement: the little dog deserves every kiss it gets. The emoji-heavy replies under the post show how many people felt the same.
A practical observation: dogs kiss back willingly. Licking is how many dogs return contact, which makes the exchange feel mutual.
One reader jokes that dogs are more loving and smell better than some people. Humour like this was the tone of most responses.
A single reader says he would gladly kiss a girlfriend if he had one, and until then the Labrador gets all the love. It is one of the funniest replies in the thread.
Someone admits to reading the story while kissing their dog. For many readers the survey simply described their evening.
This reply lists the classic reasons: dogs are always happy to see you, even if you walk out the door five times a day, and they never hold a grudge. Daily greeting rituals are a big part of the dog-owner bond.
The most moving comment describes a panic attack linked to post-traumatic stress after a car accident. The writer's dogs climbed onto the couch, cuddled close and licked her hands and face until she could focus on them. Comfort of this kind is one reason dogs are trained as psychiatric assistance animals.
A one-line answer: dogs are more loyal than humans. Loyalty is the trait people mention most often when they explain their attachment to dogs.
The thread closes with a simple equation: dogs are greater than humans, nothing more to add. Partners, presumably, were not polled on this one.
Why dogs and people bond so strongly
Psychologists describe the human–dog relationship as an attachment bond that works in both directions and resembles the tie between a caregiver and a young child. Dogs seek out their owners when stressed, explore more confidently when their person is present, and can tell positive human facial expressions from negative ones. Studies have also found that both dogs and people release oxytocin, a hormone linked to social bonding, while spending friendly time together.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes that dogs can encourage an active lifestyle, provide companionship and help ease stress and anxiety. That helps explain why a kiss on a furry head feels so natural to so many owners.
A sensible note on dog kisses
Affection is good for both of you, but dogs can carry germs that make people ill, including Salmonella. The CDC recommends washing your hands after contact with dog saliva or waste, keeping pet bowls away from where human food is prepared, and supervising young children around dogs. Most healthy adults do not need to give up cuddles; people who are pregnant, elderly or have a weakened immune system should ask a doctor what is sensible, and a vet can advise on keeping your dog healthy.
As for partners: affection is not a contest. Plenty of happy households have room for kisses on two legs and four.
Sources: ABC7: Dog owners prefer smooches with pooches; Fox News: Riley's Organics survey; first reported by People; survey by Riley's Organics; Wikipedia: Human–canine bond; CDC: Dogs and healthy people. Photos credited in the captions; reader comments from the story's social media thread.
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