What do dogs think we are?
Emma Miller
Updated on March 07, 2026
And what the studies show is welcome news for all dog owners: Not only do dogs seem to love us back, they actually see us as their family. It turns out that dogs rely on humans more than they do their own kind for affection, protection and everything in between.
What does my dog think I am?
If you're looking for the short answer to the question “Does my dog think I'm a dog?”, the answer is no. Dogs will know right off the bat that you are not a dog because of how you smell. Dogs have the same senses as humans do, but their sense of smell is far more advanced than ours is.What do dogs think of their owners as?
Dogs treat their humans like family.This effect is comparable to human-infant bonding, where human infants view their parents as a secure base in a scary, unknown world. In a similar way, dogs view their humans as a secure and constant presence in the world.