Since time immemorial, the relationship between man and dog has been built on a special connection, built through loyalty, companionship and, above all, deep mutual understanding.
Known as “man’s best friend,” the dog has played an important role in history, from hunting companion to faithful companion in modern homes.
In this context, the scientist Takefumi Kikusui, from Azubu University in Japan, conducted a study that sheds new light on the complexity of the relationship between humans and dogs.
How to tell if a dog is happy
Published in Current Biology, a scientific journal that covers all areas of biology, the study focuses on the socio-cognitive abilities of dogs, exploring how they express emotions and, in particular, how they express their happiness.
Historically, dogs have been recognized for their unique ability to understand human emotions and respond empathically. The term “man’s best friend” embodies the idea of a deep and unique connection that goes beyond companionship.
In this context, Kikusui began to analyze the release of oxytocin, the “hormone of love”, during the interactions between dogs and their owners, seeking to better understand the signs of happiness in dog
“We previously observed that oxytocin is released by dogs and owners when they interact. So we did a reunion experiment,” the Japanese scientist revealed.
The central hypothesis of the study maintains that dogs that shed tears do so as a sign of happiness when they see their owners approaching them, thus strengthening the emotional connection between the two. species.
During the observations, the scientists noticed that the dogs produced more tears when interacting with their owners, a phenomenon that was not replicated when they met their owners’ relatives again. yes.
This discovery may change our understanding of dog happiness and open up new opportunities to improve communication between humans and dogs, further strengthening the historic friendly relationship that has existed for centuries.
