The alpha (relative, relative slow, relative fast) power spectra indicated that the brain’s relaxation and resting state significantly increased when playing with and walking a dog. The beta (relative, relative low, and relative mid) power spectra significantly increased during dog massage, grooming, and playing activities, indicating improved concentration without stress. Notably, playing with a dog positively affected both relaxation and concentration.
If you read just a little further on, you'll see the details are even more encouraging, that "specific dog activities could activate stronger relaxation, emotional stability, attention, concentration, and creativity by facilitating increased brain activity."
Doesn’t this apply to cats as well?
I hear it relaxes people which increases the level of the feel good chemicals in the body, dopamine, and serotonin being two of them.
more fun without “the science”.
It will lower your blood pressure.
I really enjoy dogs. Especially bird dogs like golden retrievers, Irish Setters, and similiar breeds.
What about petting kitties? That always works for me.
My dog has never called me a right wing extremist insurrectionist racist.
He does howl from time to time though.
If petting dogs is good, wouldn’t eating them be even better?
UH OH. This study will be memory holed because Muslims hate dogs.
I have to imagine people who have dogs also have better immune systems. We have adapted together for 10s of thousands of years and without dogs humans would not have been able to conquer the northern lands, establish animal husbandry, and protect our tribes. Along with that I am certain the germs and dirt dogs brought in helped build our immune systems.
I wonder. Has there been a study of Kung Flu infections between dog owners and non dog owners? Could be interesting.