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Researchers claim that people who pet other people’s dogs can enjoy numerous health benefits. Just five minutes in the company of these furry friends can significantly lower a person’s stress hormone, cortisol. At the same time, the level of the “feel-good” hormone, oxytocin, rises for both humans and dogs. Experts also note that pet owners experience even more advantages, including improved heart health.
What Did Researchers Discover?
No one needs convincing that petting a dog boosts your mood. However, an increasing number of studies show that it can also have remarkable health benefits for humans.
It has been found that even brief positive interactions between people and dogs can have lasting effects. These interactions reduce stress hormone levels and increase what is often referred to as the “love hormone.” There is growing evidence that even short moments spent with a friendly pup can help people think more clearly.
In an experiment, brief interactions between schoolchildren and dogs twice a week improved the reasoning skills and concentration of teenagers. Researchers discovered that this positive effect persisted for several months afterward.
Interacting with Dogs Is Not a Cure-All, but It Benefits Health
According to Professor of Psychiatry Nancy Gee, it is safe to say that animals are beneficial for both the mental and physical health of people. Professor Gee leads the Center for Human-Animal Interaction, where cutting-edge research has been conducted on the potential healing effects of animal interactions. She states that they have observed very positive outcomes.
Professor Gee also points out that pets are not a cure-all. Many therapy dogs used in her group’s studies were specifically selected for their friendly and gentle behavior and their willingness to follow commands.
Moreover, not everyone can get along with dogs—whether due to allergies or personal traits. However, as Professor Gee mentions to the Daily Mail, for those who genuinely wish to interact with animals, this connection can truly make a significant difference.
Dogs Positively Impact Physical Health
Last year, a team of medical researchers and psychologists from Australia reviewed 129 peer-reviewed studies on human-dog interactions. They found that most of these studies measured positive physiological changes in the bodies and brains of people.
Specifically, these studies showed that spending just 5 to 20 minutes with a dog leads to a sharp decrease in the stress hormone cortisol. It doesn’t matter whether it’s your own pet or someone else’s. Additionally, an increase in oxytocin—the hormone associated with well-being—was also observed.
The Australian team also found a connection between human-dog interaction and heart rate variability (HRV). Changes in people’s heart rates are a good indicator of overall health improvement. Higher HRV, according to medical experts, is associated with faster relaxation, while lower HRV is linked to depression and a higher risk of fatal heart disease.
Professor Gee also notes that most positive changes are observed not only in humans but also in animals. Oxytocin levels rise in dogs during interactions with people.
Dogs Enhance Cognitive Skills in Humans
Professor Gee also participated in international collaboration for this research. Researchers studied how regular play with dogs can benefit school-aged children (ages 8-9). The students interacted with the animals for a short time, approximately twice a week.
Researchers found that children who played with dogs experienced less stress and significantly improved their reasoning skills and ability to concentrate, with these benefits persisting over time. As Professor Gee notes, they observed these same effects even a month later, and there is some evidence that they may last up to six months.
Interacting with Dogs Reduces the Risk of Death from Heart Disease
Another comprehensive analysis of peer-reviewed scientific studies showed that dog ownership was associated with a 33% reduction in the risk of death for those who had experienced a heart attack and lived alone. A meta-analysis based on data from 10 studies tracked the health status of 3.8 million people.
It turned out that owning a dog reduced the risk of death for those who had suffered a stroke and lived alone by 27%. Overall, living with this pet decreases the likelihood of death by 24%, and the risk of death from a heart attack by 31%.
Dogs Live in the Moment
According to Professor Megan Mueller, one reason dogs are so effective at reducing stress and improving concentration for people is that these animals excel at living in the present moment.
Professor Mueller explains that animals, especially dogs, live in the here and now. They constantly experience their environment with wonder. Dogs do not dwell on what happened earlier that day or ponder the future. These pets live in the moment, which can sometimes be beneficial for humans as well.
