Animals

New research findings that engaging in activities with dogs significantly increases brain activity in areas associated with relaxation, emotional stability, attention, and concentration. Furthermore, these interactions lead to reduced stress levels and enhanced positive emotional states.

A study of high school and university students in Japan reported that female (but not male) cat and dog owners tend to be a bit more involved with their families compared to non-owners. This involvement might, in turn, lead to...

A study across Denmark, Austria, and the UK reveals people generally invest more in dogs than cats, with the largest disparity in Denmark and the smallest in the UK, suggesting pet care preferences are influenced by cultural factors.

A study involving U.S. military veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) found that their heart rates were lower during sleep when they were in close proximity to a service dog, compared to nights without one. This effect was more...

A recent study published in the Emotion journal demonstrates that interacting with pet dogs significantly boosts positive emotions and reduces anxiety levels after a stress-inducing task. The research further revealed that the duration of active engagement with the dog, rather...

A newly published study in PLOS ONE has examined the brain scans of anxious and non-anxious dogs, and correlated them with behaviour. The research team at Ghent University, Belgium, found that our anxious dog friends not only have measurable differences...

When it comes to pet ownership increasing the welfare of elderly people, dog really is man’s best friend. A study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health suggests that dog owners may be healthier than cat...

A new study published in PLOS One researched neurological changes that occur when interacting with dogs. The findings indicate that cuddling with real dogs and stuffed animals increases brain activity in the prefrontal region, but dogs cause significantly more brain...

Dog is said to be man’s best friend, but does pet ownership actually improve quality of life? Though that is a popular belief, a study published in Frontiers in Psychology suggests that owning a dog can actually be related to...

Pet dogs may be helping people cope during the COVID-19 crisis, according to findings from a study published in the journal PLOS One. When surveyed during the pandemic, dog owners reported fewer depression symptoms and a stronger sense of social...

A new study found that children and adolescents with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders showed reduced symptoms after dog-assisted therapy when administered alongside pharmacological treatment. The findings were published in Frontiers in Psychology. Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) — a condition...

A study found that dog owners show heightened well-being not only when their pets meet their psychological needs, but when they make an effort to meet these needs for their pets, too. These findings were published in the Journal of...

New research suggests that dog owners can shape the personality of their pets. The findings appear in the Journal of Research in Personality. "Our lab studies how people and their relationships change across the lifespan. In thinking about the pets...

Recently, my wife and I went through one of the more excruciating experiences of our lives – the euthanasia of our beloved dog, Murphy. I remember making eye contact with Murphy moments before she took her last breath – she...

In a first of its kind randomized trial, researchers from the UCI School of Medicine found therapy dogs to be effective in reducing the symptoms of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. The study's main outcomes were recently published by...