We were feeling the love here at Jetpets HQ this month as we celebrated Valentines Day, not just with our human partners and children, but with our furry friends as well.
We know we love our dogs because they are adorable, they greet us with excitement, they give wonderful cuddles and they are extremely loyal. But we wanted to find out if there was a scientific reason behind why we love our dogs SO MUCH… we did a bit of further investigation and found out why.
There really is no other love like the way we love our dogs. It truly is unwavering and as we found out, it is mutual, our dogs love us just as much in return.
Researchers found that the same hormone, oxytocin, spikes in both human and canine brains when a dog is gazing at its owner.
Oxytocin is known to play a strong role in triggering feelings of unconditional love and protection when parents and children look into each other’s eyes or embrace.
So the findings suggest that we love our pets in the same way as we love family members, and our dogs return their devoted affection.
Researchers from the University of Tokyo and Duke University in the US believe that oxytocin has been strengthening the bond between a man and his best friend for millennia, suggesting it evolved during the domestication period of dogs which began around 34,000 years ago. This research was published in the journal Science.
So it is no wonder our feelings for our pets are so strong!
Here at Jetpets, we understand that pets are part of the family unit, and one of the best parts of our job is reuniting families with their pets at their destination. No doubt it is at this part of the travel journey that the oxytocin levels are at an all time high for both owners and their dogs, and we can tell because the smiles and tail wagging say it all!
