The hormone of happiness is produced. The study revealed the main reason to get a dog if you have a child

A new study has shown that children playing with dogs is good for both. According to scientists, this activity leads to a surge in the "hormone of happiness" (oxytocin).

According to the study, the hormone was detected in higher concentrations in children when they interacted with dogs compared to when they played with toys on their own, MailOnline reports. The study involved 55 children aged 8 to 10 years.

Oxytocin is the so-called "hug" or "love" hormone associated with social bonding. It is produced in the hypothalamus of the brain and released into the bloodstream, reduces stress and anxiety, and helps people express their emotions.

During three separate visits, the children played with their pet dog, a strange dog, and by themselves. Before, during, and after the three games, oxytocin levels were recorded in both the dogs and the children's saliva and urine samples.

After analyzing the results, the researchers found that playing with dogs led to higher levels of the hormone in children compared to playing alone. The researchers report that the effect of increasing oxytocin in children was produced by playing with both their own dog and a stranger.

Regarding the results of the analysis in animals, an increase in oxytocin was observed in domestic dogs, while the team in unfamiliar dogs observed the opposite pattern. This means that dogs are positively affected by playing with children if they are familiar with them.

"To the best of our knowledge, this study provides the first evidence of the effect of affiliative social interactions with dogs on oxytocin concentrations in children," commented  Gitanjali E. Gnanadesikan, a doctoral student at the University of Arizona School of Anthropology in Tucson.

The experts used 35 mixed breeds and 19 pure breeds for the study. However, it is worth remembering that one should always be attentive to any breed in the presence of children, especially infants.

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