Dogs can form real friendships, behavior experts say: full analysis

A new PetMD explainer is putting a familiar question into clinical language: dogs can and do form genuine friendships with other dogs. The piece, published in recent weeks, cites behavior specialists Meghan Herron, DVM, DACVB, and Wailani Sung, MS, PhD, DVM, DACVB, who describe friendship not as sentimentality projected by pet parents, but as a repeated pattern of mutual affiliative behavior and preference for a specific, familiar dog. (petmd.com)

That framing matters because canine sociality is often oversimplified in consumer media. The PetMD article places friendship on a continuum of social bonding: some dogs are highly social and build multiple preferred relationships, while others are selective or may be content with human companionship alone. That aligns with broader veterinary behavior guidance, including Merck Veterinary Manual’s emphasis on the role of early experience with littermates and later constructive social exposure in shaping canine communication and confidence. (petmd.com)

The key details in the article are practical. Herron says dogs can be considered friends when they consistently prefer one another and repeatedly display affiliative behaviors. PetMD lists examples such as nose nudges, coat licking, nibbling, play-fighting, relaxed greetings, body contact, and choosing proximity. Sung adds that dogs may identify familiar companions through sight, scent, or both, and that a neutral dog may simply sniff and disengage rather than escalate. Supporting research adds biological plausibility: one experimental study found oxytocin increased dogs’ affiliative and approach behaviors toward both human and dog partners, suggesting shared neurobiological pathways for social bonding. (petmd.com)

There’s also a useful distinction between “friendship” as a popular term and “social bond” as a scientific one. A Frontiers review notes that friendship in animals is often defined by the frequency, consistency, and duration of affiliative interactions, rather than by human-style cognition or language. That doesn’t prove dogs experience friendship exactly as people do, but it supports the article’s core claim that stable, preferred bonds in dogs are a legitimate subject of behavioral science, not just anecdote. (frontiersin.org)

Direct industry reaction to this specific PetMD piece appears limited so far, but the experts quoted are well-established voices in veterinary behavior. Their comments are notably measured: both stress that friendship is individual, develops over time, and shouldn’t be forced. That is consistent with other PetMD and veterinary behavior guidance warning that some adult dogs are not interested in expanding their social circle and may need individualized support from a board-certified veterinary behaviorist or qualified trainer rather than more exposure for exposure’s sake. (petmd.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary teams, the article offers a consumer-friendly opening to discuss a more important clinical point: sociability is not the same thing as wellness, and sociability is not one-size-fits-all. A dog who enjoys one or two familiar companions may do poorly in chaotic group settings. Another may show normal social communication but prefer brief interactions. That has implications for puppy counseling, shelter matchmaking, multi-dog household planning, daycare referrals, boarding protocols, and distinguishing healthy selectivity from fear, frustration, or aggression. It also gives clinicians a way to help pet parents read body language more accurately, focusing on reciprocity, relaxation, and recovery after interaction rather than assuming all tail wagging equals comfort. (petmd.com)

The piece may also resonate because it connects behavior medicine to quality of life. PetMD notes potential benefits of canine companionship, including emotional support, activity, and stronger social skills through repeated interaction with trusted partners. While those benefits will vary by dog, the broader message fits current behavior practice: well-matched social experiences can be enriching, but poor matches can erode confidence and create behavior fallout. (petmd.com)

What to watch: The next step is likely more translation of behavior research into practical screening tools for pet parents and clinicians, especially around how to identify healthy dog-dog bonds, which dogs are poor candidates for forced group socialization, and when selective social behavior crosses into a medicalized behavior concern. (petmd.com)