Dogs Shed Actual Tears of Joy When Reunited with Their Owners, Study Finds

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Dogs have once again proven to be human’s best friend.

“We found that dogs shed tears associated with positive emotions,” said the study’s author Takefumi Kikusui in astatement, noting that the tears may be due to a release of oxytocin.

Kikusui, a professor at the Laboratory of Human-Animal Interaction and Reciprocity at Azabu University in Japan, made the discovery after one of his poodles gave birth six years ago, and tears began welling up in her eyes as she nursed. “That gave me the idea that oxytocin might increase tears,” he said.

Oxytocin, which is also known as the “love hormone,” has previously been found in both dogs and their human owners during interactions. The new findings suggest that the release of oxytocin solidifies the bond between humans and dogs.

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Researchers also determined that the phenomenon known as “puppy dog eyes” was likelyachieved through thousands of years of selective breedingto give dogs more human-like faces, according to a study released in April.

source: people.com