Okay.. so maybe it’s not exactly a theory yet, but there is some scientific proof now that for many dog owners, having a dog makes them happier. Mom’s friend once asked her when was the last time she had been so stressed out it made her cry. She thought for awhile and then told him that she couldn’t remember… I’d like to say that I’m the reason why! Dr. Morgan, doggie psychologist, has a nice ring to it don’t you think? BOL (bark out loud).
Well a recent study at Azuba University in Japan showed that playing with your dog and holding their gaze could increase a hormone in your body that makes you happier. The article by New Scientist said biologists Miho Nagasawa and Takefumi Kikusui found that Oxytocin levels increased in certain situations. The hormone is linked to infant care, romantic love and friendship, otherwise known as the “cuddle chemical.” According to the article studies have shown that oxytocin dampens stress, combats depression, and breeds trust in humans. I wonder if staring at my mom long enough will produce enough of this hormone so she’ll give me extra treats.. note to self – must try staring at her later tonight.
The biologists ran control groups who avoided their dogs gaze and other groups that play with the dogs and tried to keep their gaze for 2 1/2 minutes. The group that stared the longest showed a 20% increase in oxytocin levels! The hormone levels were measured by urine samples before and after playtime.
So there you go.. dogs make people happier! However, you should never add a pet to your family when life is stressful, this can often lead to more stress and is unfair for you and the dog. When adopting and adding pets to your home, you should be in a stable place in your life. Then when life starts feeling more stressful, us furry ones can help make your day that much better. 🙂
Thanks to the Woof Report for cluing me into this article! Check them out at www.woofreport.com and sign up for their daily newsletters! It’s chock full of fun things and good information!