Leading pet food brand EUKANUBA has revealed the lifetime of love owners and dogs share together. With 8 in 10 (81%) owners admitting that their dog is an important member of the family, it’s no surprise that our canine companions play a pivotal role in our lives.

In fact, over one third of owners spend birthdays with their dog (38%) and nearly half will bring them along on seasonal holidays (46%), while for one in 10 (9%) their dog has been by their side as they buy their first house, get engaged, marry and even give birth to their first child!

And it’s not just the monumental moments in our lives that our dogs are there to support us with. Our canine companions are also there for the day-to-day activities such as exercising (61%) and watching TV (57%) together, early morning wake ups (32%) and for one in 10 (7%) going to work.

With this in mind, it’s not surprising that our pets are eager to show their love for us. As expected, tail-wagging (72%) is the most common way our canine companions respond to us, followed by resting their heads on our knees (58%), cuddling up next to us on the sofa (57%) and of course, big sloppy kisses and licks (55%)!

The survey also reveal that Staffordshire Bull Terriers and West Highland White Terriers are the most communicative and affectionate breeds with Staffies being the ‘waggiest’ (80%) and most partial to a belly rub (62%), while West Highland White Terriers are more likely to demonstrate their love through licking (65%), jumping up (61%) and pawing (69%) closely followed by Corgis and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. Meanwhile, Labradors are the first to meet you at the door when you come home (61%).

It also appears that like humans, love responds to love, as our most affectionate breeds are also the most spoilt, with over a third of West Highland White Terriers (39%) and Staffies (37%) being allowed to share our beds. In fact, in order to spend the most time possible with our pets, 33% of owners will prioritise their dog over their social life while 16% will put their four-legged friends’ needs ahead of their partners!

And, it seems it’s not just the dogs who do the communicating. A whopping two thirds (64%) of dog owners confess to regularly talking to their canine companion, while one quarter (26%) will even sing to them. However, women tend to get the best response with over half (56%) of owners revealing their dog prefers a female voice with 25% replying with a playful bark!

Dog behaviourist Karen Wild comments, “Though every dog is different, every single one wants to be loved, and when they are, they will return that love ten-fold. They can show affection in so many more ways than the obvious tail wagging and licking our faces. Many dogs tilt their heads when they’re keen and can show their bond with us by resting their head on our knee or seeking us for a sofa snuggle. It’s important to understand how your dog shows affection so you can return it for a loving and happy partnership – there really is no relationship like it!”

Kellie Ceccarelli, EUKANUBA’s Veterinary External Relations Manager, says: “Dogs have always been referred to as a man’s best friend and as the survey results show our love for our canine companions has only grown. As owners, to ensure we have as many enjoyable days with our dogs as possible it’s important that we feed their love with tailored life-stage nutrition. If our dogs are in optimal body condition, we can share many more happy memories together.”

For 50 years, EUKANUBA has been committed to creating high quality advanced nutrition which is tailored to dogs’ nutritional needs throughout their lifetime to support lifelong wellbeing. EUKANUBA’s recipe combines tasty fresh chicken2 alongside dry chicken and turkey as concentrated protein sources and other highly digestible animal protein ingredients such as fish meal and dried egg. Not only does the fresh chicken improve the palatability and digestibility of each recipe but it also aids in the absorption of the important amino acids and supports lean, healthy muscles. 

For more information on EUKANUBA’s range of premium tailored nutrition, please visit www.eukanuba.co.uk