Can Dogs Make Us More Caring? Science Says Yes
- Vickie Foster
- Jan 3
- 2 min read
Of all the ways that dogs enrich our lives, did you know sharing our life with them can change our personality and brains for the better? It's our dog's little contribution to making our days more sunny. Being a canine owner can actually make us more caring toward our fellow human beings.
It seems the scientific community has proof of this human-canine connection. Researchers from Azabu University in Japan did a study recently on teenagers between 12 and 14 years old comparing the behavior of dog-owning teens to teens without dogs. The dog owning teens had
significantly less social problems, aggressive behavior, and social withdrawal than their non-dog owning counterparts.
According to Dr. Takefumi Kikusui, an animal behaviorist at Azabu University, “We also found that dog ownership alters the gut microbiota.” The community of microorganisms in the human body form a gut-brain connection called the gut-brain axis. They actually develop chemicals containing neurotransmitters that directly influence our mental health and behavior.
The study delved deeper into this dog-human connection. Researchers transplanted oral microbes from dog-owning subjects and those who were dog-free into germ-free laboratory mice.
The mice receiving microbes from dog owners showed greater empathy and sociability. The “dog-influenced” mice were more likely to try to assist a trapped cage mate for instance. This same group also spent more time sniffing newly introduced mice which showed an increase in social interest.
Scientists theorize that by close contact and pooch-licks dogs transfer the diverse microbes in their system to us. The microbes then find their way to our gut, mingling with our microbes. This in turn can boost the gut chemicals that support good mental health and encourage empathetic social reactions.
Maybe you can credit your four-legged pal with making you friendlier and more outgoing. It’s one of the many perks of sharing that dog-human bond.
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