ALTERNATIVE CHILDREN: how «furry babies» lead to social degradation

Photo by Joel J. Martínez on Unsplash

Once, dogs played a crucial role in human evolution. Since then, the two species have continued to evolve within the same ecosystem. Today, we increasingly perceive our pets as alternative children. But how safe is this trend? Can the very animal that once helped us become more human now lead us to lose our humanity?

DOG AS AN EVOLUTIONARY ADVANTAGE

efore the emergence of modern humans in Europe, Neanderthals had no rivals on the continent for roughly 250,000 years. Many theories have been proposed to explain their extinction, but none are fully convincing. Scientifically unsound ideas — such as a millennia-long interspecies war or the inability of Neanderthals to adapt to the Ice Age — have been dismissed.

Some hypotheses suggest that our ancestors, the Cro-Magnons, held a number of advantages: they were better armed, their culture was more complex, there were simply more of them, and they reproduced faster. While debates around these theories continue, American paleoanthropologist Pat Shipman of the University of Pennsylvania has proposed another hypothesis. He believes that our species gained the upper hand through the domestication of dogs — something Neanderthals, for unknown reasons, never achieved.

Fossil remains of dogs suggest that domestication began around 35,000–45,000 years ago when Cro-Magnons still coexisted with Neanderthals. Cro-Magnons often buried deceased dogs with mysterious posthumous rituals, indicating the high status these animals held in Paleolithic society.

WE CHANGED EACH OTHER FOREVER

The dogs of that era were rather large animals, visually resembling modern German Shepherds. They gave Cro-Magnons undeniable advantages in hunting, transporting game, and guarding dwellings — advantages Neanderthals lacked. Although we may underestimate their skills as animal trainers — just as it was once mistakenly believed that they couldn’t use fire or had no knowledge of medicine, art, or religious rituals.

Still, there’s no evidence that Neanderthals ever befriended dogs. Which means dogs had no influence on them. But according to Shipman, they did influence Cro-Magnons because the human-dog relationship was a «two-way street».

Humans helped turn wolves into dogs, and in turn, this transformation helped upgrade our ancestors into modern humans. Among all primates, only humans have a white sclera — the outer part of the eye — which enhances visual coordination with partners during a hunt.

But dogs are unique in this regard, too — they possess the ability to follow the direction of a human’s gaze, a trait wolves lack. Coevolution took it a step further: humans and dogs developed mutual empathy, able to read each other’s emotions through their eyes.

DOGS REALLY DO LOVE US

The bond between humans and dogs has proven to be exceptionally strong. For a long time now, the majority of people around the world no longer rely on hunting or herding livestock. And yet, more than half of the global population keeps pets — among them, there are about 520 million dogs. The reason is simple: they provide a source of comforting emotional connection that people often cannot offer each other.

Compared to domestic cats, dogs clearly take the lead: in only 9 out of 195 countries, cats are more numerous than dogs. This is hardly surprising, considering that our «partnership» with cats began much later. First came dogs, then livestock, and only about 5,000 to 10,000 years ago — cats.

What’s more, judging by the level of oxytocin released when in contact with their owner, dogs love us much more than cats do. In dogs, oxytocin levels rise by an average of 57.2%; in cats — only 12%. The emotional importance of dogs in human life continues to grow rapidly. In many countries, their role in people’s lives goes far beyond the traditional idea of a household pet. In some families, the number of dogs exceeds the number of children.

THE «FUR BABY» INDUSTRY

Supporters of traditional values are sounding the alarm. Pope Francis has even publicly called childless people who pour all their love into pets selfish. But this has had little impact on the broader trend. A quick search for the phrase fur baby yields several definitions of a pet in a childless family.

In 2022, nearly 60% — or 50.3 million — of American families had no children. According to a study by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, such couples spend more on their pets than families of any type did between 2007 and 2011.

For the childless, this is one of the most common ways to direct care and affection not spent on children. And while children are considered more expensive in every way, a whole industry has grown up around «fur babies». The American firm Grand View Research estimates that this industry will be worth $202.6 billion by 2025.

To be fair, this industry doesn’t just fill your closet with doggy winter coats — it also creates new jobs: an entire army of groomers, dog walkers, animal behaviorists, and even pet therapists — specialists who professionally train dogs to use a litter box.

COEVOLUTION CONTINUES

Professor Enikő Kubinyi, head of the Department of Ethology at Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary, discovered a clear correlation between the rising number of dog owners and declining birth rates. According to data recently published in Current Directions in Psychological Science, 19% of childless adults and 10% of parents value their dog as much as any human. Kubinyi explains that some dog owners may indeed have more negative views toward parenthood.

Statistically, families with children are more likely to own dogs. But childless couples often view their pet as a «trial child», a kind of rehearsal for real parenthood. And women who consciously or unconsciously strive for this often find men with dogs more attractive. This suggests that coevolution is ongoing, and the «two-way street» is far from over.

DOGS WITH «BABY FACES» ARE THE MOST LOVED

According to Kubinyi, the relationship between humans and dogs is transforming social connections. The genetically embedded human need for social interaction is increasingly redirected toward caring for pets. The culture and multibillion-dollar «fur baby» care industry merely reflect this trend.

Ninety percent of adults don’t spend even an hour a week caring for young children, despite the fact that humans evolved in cooperative child-rearing environments. More and more people refer to themselves as their dogs’ «moms» and «dads». And the most popular pets tend to be those that resemble babies — small, short-nosed dogs.

As a result, in the competition for our love, these breeds have the evolutionary edge. Typically, such dogs suffer from more health problems, which further stimulates human sympathy, attachment, and the caregiving instincts of their «parents».

Scientists are raising concerns: if dog ownership helps bring people together, that’s great — but if it contributes to isolation and childlessness, it becomes a serious socio-demographic issue.

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