Dogs are not simply “fur babies” or best friend but a blend of both, researchers have found in a study they say highlights the special status of pets.

The study suggests owners rate their relationship with their dogs as being as satisfying or more satisfying than their closest human relationships. However, the researchers did not find the owner-dog bond was stronger in people with weaker human relationships.

“Our results showed that it [the bond] does not replace human relationships but offers something different, a unique combination of characteristics to complement what we receive from the human side of our social network,” said Borbála Turcsán, first author of the study from Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary.

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The team found owners rated their dogs higher for companionship and needing nurture than their closest relative, best friend, and romantic partner, while they experienced fewer negative interactions with their dog than with their child, romantic partner or closest relative.

Owners also rated their dogs higher than their best friends and closest relatives for areas including affection, reliability and support. However, when it came to intimacy, romantic partners trumped canines.

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