If you have a dog-owning friend who has a habit of flaking on plans, they could be doing it to hang out with their canine best friend instead. A new study of 2,000 dog owners found that it's common, with more than half of them admitting to sometimes skipping social events to spend time with their pet instead. The study from smart dog collar creator Link AKC also found that 60 percent said their dog often takes care of them in some way, with many saying they talk to their dog like they were a friend, and their pet helped them get over a breakup or handle the death of a loved one. "Unconditional love" was named the biggest benefit of dog ownership by 55 percent of them, followed by "constant companionship," and 88 percent said their dog made them a better person.