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#27 I Love You Soooooo Much!

Romantic couple in love walking dogs in nature and smiling

“The world would be a nicer place if everyone had the ability to love as unconditionally as a dog” – M.K. Clinton

 

Yesterday we spoke about how our pups are a good judge of character and why we as owners, should listen to and observe their responses to people they come in contact with.

This lead me to wonder if our pups really do genuinely love us – it seems as though it is unconditional.

There have been many scientific studies done on this subject.  As owners of our furry family members, we know how we feel about our pups and the majority of us couldn’t imagine our lives without them.

Scientists have discovered that our pups actually do have legitimate feelings of love for us.

 

Border Collie puppy looking into a top hat

FUN FACT: Scientists have used neuro-imaging scans to better determine the extent of our furry family members’ love for us.  Because dogs’ sense of smell is so keen, there are particular odors they pick up on that actually correlate with social behaviors.  When dogs were presented with their owner’s smell, the ‘reward center’ of the brain was activated, more so than any other odors they were presented with.

What does this mean?

Dogs do depend on us to take care of them and to be their voice, however, this study is one of many that demonstrates that our furry family members not only love us back, but perceive us as family.

You may wonder if your pup knows that you love them.  Well, the answer is yes. Our furry family members are one of the only species that is able to read signals of human behavior (our emotions, tone of voice, and our love for them).

Dogs are of course domesticated and have spent centuries alongside humans.  When a pup and their human owner bond, they transmit neurological chemicals that strengthen their love for each other.

Happy young woman with her dog in the summer

FUN FACT:  Dr. Brian Hare, a scientist and author has found that dogs actually have the same neurological effect on most of their owners as human babies do.  When an owner interacts with their pup by playing, petting, cuddling, etc., both the owner and dog’s oxytocin levels go up.  While women produce more of this hormone overall, men do as well.

Bottom line, your pup knows that you love and protect them and they do the same in return – genuinely.

Family with dog in the bed

After all, your pup is part of your family!