Dog owners consider their relationship with their dogs to be stronger than that with their best friend or romantic partner, according to a new study from Hungary. The only relationship they value more is that with their own children.

Researchers from Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary recruited 717 dog owners during two different periods, from April 2011 to February 2013 and from January 2022 to December 2023. Around 20 percent of participants had children and around 80 percent had a romantic partner.

Dog owners were asked to rate several statements about their relationships with their pets, children, romantic partners, closest relatives, and best friends based on characteristics such as reliability, support, and companionship. Participants were also asked to indicate how often they took care of the person or pet, spent fun time with them, or argued with them. This was done on a scale of 1 to 5, which gave average values for different scales. The researchers then compared these average values between dog relationships and human relationships using statistical tests to see if the differences were significant.

The researchers found that owners gave their dogs higher ratings for companionship than their closest relatives, best friends, and romantic partners. Dogs received an average rating of 4.3, while best friends and partners scored 3.8 and 4 on the scale, respectively. The only ones who were considered slightly better company were one’s own children, with an average rating of 4.5 on the scale.

In general, the owners had very little conflict with their dogs (1.5), but more with their partners (2.3) and best friends (2). Parents also had more conflicts with their children than with their dogs, with conflicts with children averaging 1.8 on the scale. When it came to care, both giving and receiving, dogs and children also received the highest ratings, with 4.1 and 4.4 on the scale, respectively.

Children topped the ratings when it came to love (4.7), reliability (4.5), and support (4.4). However, dogs were not far behind, coming in a respectable second place compared to relatives, partners, and best friends. Dogs were rated 4.4 for love, while partners scored 4.3. Dogs were also considered more reliable than best friends, with 4.2 and 3.8, respectively. When it came to feeling supported, dogs scored an average of 4, while partners scored 3.9 and best friends 3.7. Furthermore, dog owners were also more satisfied with their relationships with their dogs than with their closest relatives and best friends.

According to the researchers, dogs are not just “fur babies” or best friends, but a mixture of both. However, the researchers did not find that the bond between owner and dog was stronger in people with weaker human relationships.

– Dogs offer a highly positive relationship with minimal conflict, strong social support, and the unique opportunity to have full control over another living being’s life, Professor Enikő Kubinyi told British newspaper The Guardian.