Biologists Miho Nagasawa and Takefumi Kikusui from Japan studied human/dog social contact, and its impact on oxytocin, a hormone thought to increase emotional satisfaction – and even love. A hormone, oxytocin has been “nicknamed the ‘cuddle chemical’ and the ‘love drug’” according to a recent article in NewScientist.

The article says that “a flood of the cuddle chemical could explain why playing with dogs can lift moods and even improve symptoms of anxiety and depression” according to Kikusui.

It’s worth a quick read — though I’m guessing a lot of us here already knew this! Here’s the link.

If you haven’t read it yet, I also recommend a blog post from Dr. Samuel Ross, founder of Green Chimneys, called, “Do You Believe in Animal Magic?.”