Pet lovers relish the strong bonds they have with their pets, and now they can understand what's really go on.
New research showing the answer lies in our own hormone physiology and that of the dog will be presented at the 12th annual International Conference on the Human Animal Interactions in Stockholm, Sweden July 1-4.
"We're finally beginning to understand the physiological mechanisms underpinning the human companion animal bond." says Kerstin Uvnas-Moberg, a Swedish scientist speaking at the conference.
Results focus on the bonding hormone oxytocin, the stress hormone cortisol and insulin.
"A short-term sensory interaction between a dog and its owner influence hormonal levels in both species", says Kerstin Uvnas-Moberg, "The dog's oxytocin levels displayed a significant rise just three minutes after the start of the interaction. There was also a significant positive correlation between the dogs' and the owners' oxytocin levels after 15 minutes."
The conference is used as a forum for spreading information about the positive benefits of pets for society. source
