Parental Unit said that once I looked at her with my big brown eyes, she was "a goner". I'm not sure what that means, but I do know that I was "a goner" from the shelter within minutes of meeting my new Parental Unit!
Ridiculously cute photo of me by Clark Creative.
This fascinating article in today's New York Times Science section explains just how a dog's loving gaze turns you humans into besotted fools. No offense, of course.
A new report in the renowned journal, Science, seems to confirm what pet parents have known for ages: when humans and dogs gaze into one another's eyes, both release elevated levels of the "attachment" hormone, oxytocin. This "continuous loop of loving reinforcement" probably starts with the dogs' gaze, according to researchers. And the bonding that ensues is similar to the "feel-good" feedback that bolsters bonding between parent and child. One of the conclusions drawn by the researchers is that perhaps dogs "cleverly and unknowingly utilized a system meant for bonding a parent with his or her child." Unknowingly? Yeah right.
In my experience, if I gaze at Parental Unit long enough, I usually get, oh, a treat or a walk. How about you?
Ridiculously cute photo of me by Clark Creative.
This fascinating article in today's New York Times Science section explains just how a dog's loving gaze turns you humans into besotted fools. No offense, of course.
A new report in the renowned journal, Science, seems to confirm what pet parents have known for ages: when humans and dogs gaze into one another's eyes, both release elevated levels of the "attachment" hormone, oxytocin. This "continuous loop of loving reinforcement" probably starts with the dogs' gaze, according to researchers. And the bonding that ensues is similar to the "feel-good" feedback that bolsters bonding between parent and child. One of the conclusions drawn by the researchers is that perhaps dogs "cleverly and unknowingly utilized a system meant for bonding a parent with his or her child." Unknowingly? Yeah right.
In my experience, if I gaze at Parental Unit long enough, I usually get, oh, a treat or a walk. How about you?
