There have been many studies showing that the companionship of a dog can bring about health benefits. The positive social interaction gives a psychological boost, and the mental stimulation is helpful as well. In this post we’ll focus on psychological connections, but of course the exercise from walking a dog or playing with a dog can also improve health.
A recent study found that when a dog and person gaze at each other, oxytocin is boosted in both. (Oxytocin is a feel-good hormone that is associated with intimacy). The fact that dogs will even gaze at humans is a result of domestication, for in the wild wolves interpret stares as threats, and they avoid eye contact when they’ve been raised with humans.
The gaze of a dog contributes to bonding. Of course, sometimes that gaze means “That food really looks good–aren’t you going to share!” 🙂 Or it may mean that the dog wants to go outside. However, most people who have had dogs will testify to the fact that many times a dog’s gaze is just a natural part of a loving relationship.
Certainly the work of therapy dogs in recent years has brought light to the healing effect that a dog can have on a human. Many hospitals have programs with therapy dogs, and I know of some universities that bring in therapy dogs at times of stress, such as midterms and finals.
To read more on this topic, see “The Look of Love Is in the Dog’s Eyes,” and “Oxytocin-Gaze Positive Loop and the Coevolution of Human-Dog Bonds.” (The latter link is from the actual study.)
The following video about the research being conducted by Emory University neuroscientist Gregory Berns suggests that dogs do in fact love us:
Berns’ book, How Dogs Love Us, delves more into this research.
Personally, I know that I get a warm and fuzzy feeling when my dog and I exchange gazes. The bond I feel with my dog is super strong, as it is between many other human-dog partnerships. I do feel that this relationship contributes to a state of well-being, and that state of well-being naturally produces health benefits. Dogs are the greatest! 🙂
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