Do you also barely resist the temptation to cuddle a dog, no matter if yours or someone else’s? It’s no surprise, a new study shows that such contact with a dog is like a drug for human brain.
The new study now revealed that cuddling with these furry friends has similar effects to our brain as drugs. On the opposite of drugs as we know them, cuddling with a dog has only positive effects. It does not only release the happiness hormones serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin which also reduce the blood pressure and stress level.
Contact with dogs therefore makes our mood better. Are you asking how it works then? A human brain works with one of our senses – touch – in a way that surfaces we touch (or that touch us) are divided into pleasant, neutral and unpleasant. The part of the brain called anterior cingular cortex is responsible for our emotions and then these inputs are interpreted according to their pleasantness. Caressing a dog and cuddling with it then releases serotonin and dopamine which improve the mood and reduce the stress level.
People are sociable creatures and need regular touch that we often neglect with each other or we do not have enough opportunities for it. Our dog companions might help us with that. They will always remind us they need contact and moreover, who could resist their fur, right?
Besides releasing happiness hormones, dogs help us in other ways to live a better life. Thanks to this, we have healthier lifestyles – we have enough physical activity, spend more time outside and get more vitamin D from the sunlight. Sleeping in bed with a dog might also help us to sleep more calmly and it is a great and natural opportunity for bonding.
Do you also belong to those people who can’t resist and cuddle a dog if they have an opportunity? Do you also enjoy evenings on a sofa with your dog with its head on your lap? Do you see any differences in yourself when you compare the time before you got a dog and after? Are you happier and more satisfied now? I, myself, feel calmer.
According to the data published at the end of last year, more than half of the people from around the world lives with at least one pet. The most numerous dog population is in the United States (70 million dogs), followed by Brazil (36 million) and...
When I travel, I'm always interested in what is the view of the given country upon the keeping of pets. And generally, how animals are treated there. The position of cats, dogs and rodents varies significantly in different countries, so there’s...
People often confuse the grey wolf with the Czechoslovakian Wolfdog. This shepherd’s and today a very popular breed was bred from the German Shepherd by crossbreeding with the Carpathian wolf. Even though the dog and the wolf are very similar in...
The golden hamster, sometimes referred to as hamster-teddy bear because of its appearance, was first captured less than a century ago by zoologists in Syria. Hence also its second name – the Syrian hamster. Over time, it became a popular pet throughout...
The cloning of dogs or cats is slowly becoming a completely normal reality. For now, you can encounter it mostly in Asian countries. It’s the companies in South Korea that are most famous for their business plans focusing on the grieving dog and cat...
It would probably entirely unnecessary to describe the appearance of the German Shepherd. Probably everyone, even non-dog-lovers, have seen the German series Inspector Rex. Apart from the most famous colouring with black or golden marks, it is bred...
Getting a cat doesn’t mean only buying a cat toilet, bowls, a bed and a couple of toys. You also have to realise that the animal will also need certain care and count with this already before getting it. Each breed has its own specifics. While some are...
The Persian Longhairs, which have most likely descended from the Turkish Angoras, were bred in England at the end of the 19th century. Since then, they have undergone great changes, and today they have a much more compact body in comparison to the...
The desire for your own dog friend can also lead to a great disappointment. Since a lot of people fall for scammers when buying through an ad. Getting a dog this way is a risk not only from the money point of view, but also with respect to the mental...
Traveling with a dog in the city is stressful for many dog owners. One of the reasons may be the fear of riding escalators. If the dog is not accustomed to them since young age, he can have issue with it as an adult. Even in the case that your dog aces...
For the majority of dog breeders, winter is the period that has to be waited out somehow. But this time of year provides ideal conditions for the musher sport. And if you found pleasure in summer trainings with the dog, don’t hang the dog harness on an...
Most owners consider pets kept at home to be full-fledged family members. And year after year, they invest more and more money in them. Just for dog and cat food, Czechs spend around eight billion crowns a year. The business around pets is experiencing...
