---
title: "Dad’s Popular — but Dogs Are More So"
description: "Nearly three-in-four adults say they feel \"close\" to their fathers -- but America's dads shouldn't feel too smug. Not only do moms outpoll them on the intimacy scale, but the family dog tops both."
date: "2010-06-08"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2010/06/08/dads-popular-but-dogs-are-more-so/"
---

# Dad’s Popular — but Dogs Are More So

When you ask U.S. adults about their parents, fully 74% say they feel close to their father. But a 2006 Pew Research Center survey found that somewhat more, 87%, say they feel close to their mother. Moreover, dogs edge both parents, as well as cats, in the human intimacy sweepstake. Fully 94% of dog owners say they feel “close” to their pet compared with 84% of cat owners. So for anyone keeping score, the family intimacy standings look like this: dog 94%; mom 87%; cat 84%; dad 74%. Happy Father’s Day, Dad! [Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/pubs/303/gauging-family-intimacy)