It's official: Dogs really DO understand how much we love them
Dog lovers everywhere love nothing more than to shower their pets in snuggles, treats, and toys. And it turns out, according to one expert, that your pup knows just how much you care about her.
Dr. Brian Hare, who has written books about canine cognition, told People that dogs have emotions and feelings just like we do. Here's what he said about love.
"Yes, your dog knows how much you love him! Dogs and humans have a very special relationship, where dogs have actually hijacked the human oxytocin bonding pathway that is normally reserved for our babies," he says.
"When you stare at your dog, both your oxytocin levels go up, the same as when you pet them and play with them. It makes you both feel good and reinforces your bonding. Does your dog ever stare at you for no reason? They are just 'hugging you' with their eyes."
Dogs are hugging us with their eyes? That might be the loveliest thing in the entire world.
And that's backed up by another recent study, which was part of a BBC documentary. When dogs interact with humans, their oxytocin levels go up, just like when humans interact with dogs, or even their own children.
And as a win for dog people, dogs had those hormones spike more than cats did in similar situations, according to the Telegraph.
This also comes after an evolutionary psychologist, Dr. Deirdre Barrett, told People recently that dogs likely dream about what they see every day, and that means they likely dream about you. (If you're a cat person, chances are they dream about chasing mice instead.)
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