Scientists have found the cause of the friendship of man and dog – KM.RU

Scientists have found the cause of friendship between man and dog.

© KM.RU

According to a study at the biochemical level, they use a mechanism that amplifies the strongest biological relationship – between mother and child. In particular, the close contact between man and dog provides a “love hormone” oxytocin, reported in the journal Science.

It was found that during the contact in the blood of both species increased levels of this hormone.

As part of the scientists launched dogs into the room with their hosts and 30 minutes recorded various forms of interaction (sight, touch and conversation). In addition, oxytocin concentration was measured in the urine of humans and animals.

As it turned out, the longer the owners are looking into the eyes of dogs, the higher their oxytocin levels.

In another experiment, the scientists specially injected into the animal’s nose, this hormone and put them in a room in which their owners were together with random people. As a result, females began to look more into “us”, and after 30 minutes of oxytocin levels rose in the body and the home.

It is noted that in dogs revealed another side of oxytocin – it also increases aggressive to strangers. This led to the fact that they have become more suspicious of strangers in the room sniffing.

It is noted that the wolves this reaction is not observed – even those who have grown up in captivity, and consequently, the scientists say, this mechanism is the result of co-evolution (coevolution) people and dogs for thousands of years of their life together.