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For thousands of years, dogs have been humans' best friends across cultures. The word "puppy" is thought to come from the French poupée, or doll. Folk stories are full of dogs — the African tale of Rukuba, who brought us fire; the Welsh legend of the faithful hound Gelert, who saved a prince's baby. People have long included dogs in family portraits and even their wills. We've all felt that deep, silent connection with a dog — but why does it exist?
The Study
Recent research shows how dogs have essentially "hacked" the human bonding system. Work by Takefumi Kikusui, an animal behaviorist at Azabu University in Japan, found that when our dogs gaze into our eyes, they activate the same hormonal response that bonds us to human infants. Kikusui's lab studies oxytocin, a hormone central to maternal bonding and trust. Earlier research showed that when a mother and baby gaze at each other, both experience rising oxytocin in a self-reinforcing loop that builds a strong emotional bond.
In Kikusui's study, dogs and their owners spent 30 minutes together while researchers measured oxytocin through urine samples. The pairs with the most eye contact showed the largest oxytocin increases — and the dogs' levels rose right along with their owners'. Among the duos that gazed at each other most, both male and female dogs saw about a 130% rise in oxytocin, and owners about a 300% increase. When the team ran a similar experiment with wolves raised by people, no such increase occurred — suggesting this is something special to the human-dog relationship.
The Results
The findings suggest that human-dog interactions trigger the same oxytocin feedback loop seen between mothers and infants — which may explain why we feel so close to our dogs, and they to us.
That reciprocal bond has a wellness angle, too. Reflecting on HempMy Pet's Colorado State University study, Dr. Robin Downing noted that "when dogs feel better, their owner feels better, and when the owner feels better, the dog feels better, because there is an emotional bond that is very reciprocal." Supporting a dog's comfort and quality of life, she added, ultimately strengthens the human-animal bond itself.
When your dog feels their best, you both do. Organically grown, full-spectrum hemp oil to support calm and comfort — third-party tested, made on our Colorado family farm.
Shop Hemp for Dogs →Frequently Asked Questions
Do dogs and humans really bond through eye contact?
Yes. Research found that mutual gazing between dogs and their owners raises oxytocin in both — the same bonding hormone involved in the parent-infant connection. The more eye contact, the bigger the oxytocin rise.
What is oxytocin's role in the human-dog bond?
Oxytocin is often called the "bonding hormone." In the studied feedback loop, a dog's gaze raises the owner's oxytocin, which encourages more interaction, which raises the dog's oxytocin — deepening the bond on both sides.
Do wolves bond with people the same way?
Not in the study. Wolves raised by humans didn't show the oxytocin increase from gazing that dogs did, suggesting this bonding response is something special to domesticated dogs.
This content is for general information. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
