You know that look dogs make? The puppy eyes? I just read in Live Science about a study that shows this gazing between dogs and their owners increase the level of Oxytocin—the love hormone in both dog and human.
This same release of Oxytocin takes place when a mother gazes at her newborn.
V-e-r-y I-n-t-e-r-e-s-t-i-n-g.
Here’s an excerpt from the article:
Gazing behavior
Kikusui and his colleagues wondered exactly what dogs are getting out of their affectionate gazing at humans. In the new study, which is detailed today (April 16) in the journal Science, the team measured the oxytocin levels of dogs and their owners before and after the pairs spent 30 minutes together. After the owners spent quality time gazing into their dogs’ eyes, petting and talking to the furballs, both the people and dogs showed increases in the levels of oxytocin in their urine. What’s more, the more oxytocin rose in humans, the more it did in dogs as well.
You can read the entire article here.
Article source: Live Science
Image source: Mikako Mikura
