The strong bond between humans and dogs

When dogs and people gaze into each other’s eyes a hormone called oxytocin is released in both the human and the dog. Though evidence suggests that humans domesticated dogs almost 30,000 years ago, it was around 10,000 years ago that the modern bond we see today truly began. It is a relationship literally built over thousands of years, so there is no denying that the love we have for our canine friends runs deep.

A study led by Nagasawa found that when dogs and people gaze into each other’s eyes a hormone called oxytocin is released in both the human and the dog. Oxytocin is the same hormone that is released when two people, who connect emotionally, look at each other. Basically, we love our dogs as much as we love our family, and they love us back. Considering our rich history and strong bond, it is no surprise that dogs are one of the world’s favourite pets.