What Is a Heart Dog?

The term “heart dog” has been widely used among the dog community since dogs have elevated to family member status versus “just pets.” 

Their involvement in our lives has also created a stronger bond between human and animal.

What exactly is a heart dog, and how do you know if you found yours? 

It’s challenging to describe what a heart dog is to someone who has not yet felt that connection with a dog they’ve had.

This article will explain what the term means and help you determine if you’ve experienced that special bond with a dog you’ve had in your life.

What Is a Heart Dog?

The definition of a heart dog is difficult to truly explain, as it is based more on feeling, but it’s probably best described as that once-in-a-lifetime dog you consider your soulmate.

Perhaps the definition can be described with this soul dog quote from Thom Jones: 

“Dogs have a way of finding the people who need them and filling the emptiness we didn’t even know we had.”

Often, heart dogs are those who are in our lives during particularly difficult periods, like after a divorce or death in the family. 

For some, it’s their first dog, while others may have no special circumstances that designate them as one’s heart dog.

Some factors that can lead someone to feel a strong connection with their dog include:

• Entering your life during a time when you just experienced a trauma or loss
• A dog that is naturally more intuitive
• A dog that you travel with or have shared many experiences with
• You moved across the country or to a new place together
• Times when the dog has been your only friend

Your heart dog is one with whom you feel a deep soul connection. It feels like they were put in your life for a reason, and you are in tune with one another.

You could describe it as being madly in love with your dog, similar to how you would describe a human soulmate but without the romance. 

How Do I Know if My Dog Is My Heart Dog?

Similar to falling in love with someone, you just know when you have that soul connection with a dog.

When you have that human-dog spiritual connection, you know that dog was supposed to be in your life. 

Maybe they changed your life in some way, such as introducing you to a new activity, a life partner, or other significant experience that would not have happened without them.

You will feel in tune with your heart dog. When you look at one another, it’s almost as though you’re peering into one another’s souls. 

Your heart dog wants nothing more than to please you and cooperate with you. You trust one another completely.

Some feel an instant connection with the dog upon meeting, while others may develop a strong bond after a few years. 

There is no recipe for determining a heart dog.

Can Any Dog Be a Heart Dog?

Most experience just one heart dog in their lifetime, sometimes two, if they’re really lucky. 

If you feel that every dog you’ve had in your life is a heart dog, then it’s possible that you’ve not yet met your soulmate dog.

Some people never feel that soulful connection with their dog. Heart dogs are rare, and that’s what makes them so special.

That’s not to say that you can’t feel a deep connection with all the dogs you have in your life, but your heart dog stands out above the rest because you have a unique bond. 

Is It Possible to Love Another Dog After I Lose My Heart Dog?

Losing a dog, especially a heart dog, is one of the most difficult and painful experiences any dog owner will encounter.

While the time to get over the loss may last longer than it did with other dogs, the human heart is entirely capable of loving another being as fiercely as the one you lost. 

It’s important to remember that getting a new dog is not a replacement for your heart dog. 

They are completely different dogs, and holding them to such high expectations can damage the relationship before it even begins.

Heart dogs will always hold a special place in our lives, but it doesn’t mean it’s impossible to love or even have a close connection with another dog.

Conclusion: Finding Your Heart Dog

Your “heart dog” is more than just a pet; they are a soulmate in dog form. It is an indescribable connection that fills our lives and hearts with an immeasurable amount of love and joy.

To know if you have met your heart dog, listen to your heart. Look for that special spark in their eyes when you are around one another, the unwavering loyalty they offer, and how they understand you without words.

If you have found your heart dog, cherish and celebrate that special bond. Know that even after they are physically gone, they will always be with you.

But also know that losing your heart dog doesn’t mean you can’t love another dog again.

The grieving process will be especially difficult, but you can work through it and, ultimately, open your heart up again to another pup that will remind you of their incredible capacity to love.