My partner (US American woman) thinks dogs have been bred to act needy and pathetic. I tend to agree. I guess I can see how that could be mistaken that for loyalty, but it doesn't make it more attractive.
If someone is a dog owner type, I often stereotype them as wanting to both nurture and control, more parental. Cat owners often encourage independence. The relationship they want to have with a pet often bleeds over into the relationship they have with a partner.
I do strongly agree that evo-psych makes little sense: just-so narratives sound good though!
Hard to see a border collie as needy and pathetic to me.
Labrador maybe. Pugs definitely.
So not pathetic or needy. Just don't lock it inside.