Few things are as delightful as coming home to a beloved dog’s devotion, and new research suggests that a dog’s joy at being reunited with its owner might cause them to cry. The study’s authors explain their findings in the journal Current Biology, saying that dogs’ emotional reactions to seeing their favorite people are all intended to touch our hearts and motivate us to be better pet parents.
The researchers claim that, unlike any other species, dogs have evolved or were domesticated through eye contact and have developed advanced communication skills with people. Their tears “may have a role in evoking protective or loving behavior from their owners through this process, resulting in the development of reciprocal connections and leading to interspecies bonding.”
Blubbering dogs, however, don’t cry the kind of tears that run down the cheeks and drench the pillow, unlike us teary humans. Instead, they simply break down and get misty-eyed, giving off an unstoppable puppy-dog look.
Instead of counting tears, the study’s authors measured the amount of tears present in dogs’ eyes when they were with their owners at home and again when they were reunited with their owners after a five- to seven-hour separation. The findings showed that tear volume did not change when dogs were reintroduced to familiar persons who were not their owners, but it did increase dramatically after reunions with owners.
According to earlier studies, interactions between dogs and people cause the so-called “love hormone” oxytocin to be released in both species. The authors of the study hypothesized that oxytocin, a neuropeptide important in social bonding and emotional reactions, may be the source of dogs’ soppy behavior.
They conducted an investigation by injecting oxytocin into the eyes of dogs, and they discovered that this increased the quantity of tears. The absence of a similar reaction after the addition of a separate peptide solution to the animals’ eyes proves that the tears weren’t produced because of irritation.
Instead of counting tears, the study’s authors measured the amount of tears present in dogs’ eyes when they were with their owners at home and again when they were reunited with their owners after a five- to seven-hour separation. The findings showed that tear volume did not change when dogs were reintroduced to familiar persons who were not their owners, but it did increase dramatically after reunions with owners.
According to earlier studies, interactions between dogs and people cause the so-called “love hormone” oxytocin to be released in both species. The authors of the study hypothesized that oxytocin, a neuropeptide important in social bonding and emotional reactions, may be the source of dogs’ soppy behavior.
According to Kikusui, “dogs have become a partner of people, and we may develop ties.” “In this process, it’s probable that the owners will take better care of the dogs who display teary eyes when interacting with them.”
The results of these studies suggest that dogs cry when they have a positive interaction with a person, but it is unknown if dogs cry when they are sad. The researchers are also unable to determine if tears have any role in mediating social connection between dogs or if puppy-dog eyes are simply there to make people cry.
