Our 4-day Easter weekend is coming to a close (sigh); here’s something to make you smile as you return to work tomorrow:
Oxytocin is a mammalian hormone that is released during the act of touching and hugging. For these reasons, the hormone is often referred to as ‘the cuddle hormone’ or ‘the love hormone.’ (The hormone is also released during childbirth, by the way).
As a dog owner, your relationship with your dog is likely to involve you and your dog triggering the release of oxytocin in one another. Temple Grandin, animal behaviourist and autism researcher, has found that ‘A dog’s oxytocin levels rise when his owners pet him and petting his dog raises the owner’s oxytocin too.’ In other words, this hormone plays a role in the human-animal bond.
In 2003, J.S.J. Odendaal and R.A. Meintjes of the Life Sciences Institute at Pretoria published research into the blood levels of endorphins, oxytocin, prolactin, B-phenylethylamine and dopamine (all associated with pleasure response or relaxation) and cortisol (a known stress hormone) in people and dogs both before and after they interacted with each other. The researchers compared levels of the neurochemicals under three scenarios: 1) after people petted their own dogs 2) after they petted unfamiliar dogs and 3) after they sat quietly and read a book.
In both humans and dogs, the levels of the pleasure-response chemicals rose after 5 to 24 minutes. At the same time, cortisol levels in humans fell as they spent time with their pets. The increase in oxytocin was highest in the group where people interacted with their own dogs, as opposed to dogs that were unfamiliar to them.
In 2008, Miho Nagasawa’s research team in Japan showed that only eye contact was necessary between dogs and their humans to increase oxytocin levels. After 30 minutes of contact with their dog, owners showed an increase in oxytocin levels.
Dr Kerstin Uvnäs-Moberg from Uppsala University, studies oxytocin and its effects. Her 2010 study showed that women and their dogs experienced increases in their oxytocin levels after only 10 minutes of contact. When compared to a survey of the women, their oxytocin response was in direct correlation with the quality of the bond they felt for their pet.
For those of us who have experienced this bond during our lives, it is probably not surprising that there is a scientific reason for our feelings and that it is hormone-related. But it’s nice to have science on our side.
For those of you raising puppies, these studies show that there is a good scientific reason to ensure your puppy is socialised. It is not surprising that dogs involved in hoarding cases or puppy mills are withdrawn and in many cases frightened of humans. They aren’t accustomed to the positive effects of oxytocin release and in many cases have suffered other traumas.
Hey Daisy, give me a hug…I need the oxytocin.
Have you hugged your dog today?
Kathleen Crisley, specialist in dog massage, rehabilitation and nutrition/food therapy, The Balanced Dog, Christchurch, New Zealand
Here’s the Fox 5 story of rescue dog ‘Red’ – one of the last surviving rescue dogs from the 9/11 attacks. Red has arthritis and degeneration in her back and has undergone stem cell therapy at a Virginia clinic.
9/11 Search and Rescue Dog Receives Stem Cell Therapy at Va. Clinic.
Posted in Dogs, special dogs and awards
Tagged 9/11 attacks, arthritis, Fox 5 news, Red, rescue dogs, search and rescue, stem cell therapy, virginia
This week, the world will commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Titanic’s maiden voyage and sinking in the North Atlantic. As with many moments in history, dogs were part of this event.
Dogs were among the passengers of the Titanic and the ship had dedicated kennel facilities. A dog show had been planned on board the ship for Monday 15th April. When the ship was sinking, it was reported that a passenger went to the kennels and released the dogs to save them from drowning in their cages.
According to (mixed) records, between 10 and 12 dogs were on board the ship. The Astors (perhaps the richest passengers on board) were traveling with their Airedale named Kitty. Each day a member of Titanic’s crew would exercise the dogs on deck.
The Astors with their dog
A photo (unattributed) reported to be staff of the Titanic taking dogs for a walk on deck.
Three dogs survived the sinking. There was a Pomeranian owned by Miss Margaret Hays of New York; the pair escaped in lifeboat Number 7. Elizabeth Rothschild escaped in lifeboat Number 6 with her Pomeranian. The other dog was Pekingese named Sun Yat Sen owned by Henry Sleeper; owner and dog escaped in lifeboat Number 3.
The Titanic Museum in Branson, Missouri has established the world’s first tribute to dogs of the Titanic. Mascots Molly and Carter greet guests each day from Wednesday to Sunday and show them the kennel facilities of the ship, along with stories of dogs aboard. This creative commercial for the exhibit is found on YouTube:
Not to be confused with actual history, a book by Marty Crisp for young adults tells the story of White Star: A Dog on The Titanic. In this fictional story, a 12-year old named Sam Harris is traveling from England to America. Sam volunteers to help out in the Titanic’s kennels and meets Star, an Irish Setter. The boy and dog live through the sinking.
White Star: A Dog on the Titanic
Ms Crisp compiled the following canine passenger manifest when she researching for her book about White Star:
| Owners | Breed | Boarded | Home | Cabin # | Lifeboat | Survived? |
| Robert Williams Daniel, 27, a banker traveling alone |
1) French bulldog“Gamin de Pycombe” | Southampton | Philadelphia | Went down with the ship and was pulled aboard by a lifeboat | Daniel- yes; Bulldog- no, although it was seen in the water by R.N. Williams | |
| Henry Sleeper Harper, 48,a publishing scion traveling with his wife, Myra, 49, a manservant, and an Egyptian dragoman | 2) Pekinese“Sun Yat Sen” | Cherbourg | New York City | D-33 | Lifeboat 3 wife, servant and companion all escaped in LB3 | Harper-yes; Pekinese-yes |
| Helen Bishop, 19,newlywed, honeymooning with Dickinson H. Bishop | 3) small, unknown breed“Frou Frou” | Cherbourg | Dowagiac, Michigan | B-49 | Lifeboat 7 | Bishop and her husband- yes; Frou Frou- no, left locked in cabin |
| Harry Anderson, 47,stockbroker, traveling alone | 4) Chow | Southampton | New York City | E-12 | Lifeboat 3 | Anderson- yes; Chow- no |
| William Ernest Carter, 36,traveling with his wife, Lucile, 36, daughter, also Lucile, 14, and son, William the II, 11. Also traveling with a maid and manservant | 5) and 6) two small dogs.One was a King Charles Spaniel and the other breed is unknown. | Southampton | Bryn Mawr, PA. | B-96 and B-98 | Collapsible C; wife and children left the ship in Lifeboat 4; servants were both lost | All members of family- yes; dogs- no |
| Margaret Hays, 24,traveling alone | 7) Pomeranian | Cherbourg | New York City | C-54 | Lifeboat 7 | Hays-yes; Pomeranian-yes |
| Col. John Jacob Astor, 47,real estate tycoon traveling with his pregnant wife, Madeleine, 19, and a maid and a manservant | 8) and 9) Airedale, “Kitty,” and a second dog, probably also an Airedale,per a report from survivor Edwiga Goldenberg | Cherbourg | New York City | C-62 | Astor went down with the ship and was crushed by a falling funnelManservant was lost. Wife and maid survived on Lifeboat 4. | Astor- no; Airedales- no; wife- yes |
| William Crothers Dulles, 39,attorney, traveling alone | 10) unknown breed,listed in channel crossing records simply as “dog.” Possibly a Pomeranian or a fox terrier | Cherbourg | Philadelphia | A-18 | Went down with the ship | Dulles- no; dog- no |
| Ann Isham, 50,spinster expatriate who had been living in Paris with her sister for the previous nine years (Isham is a possible, not a verified, dog owner.) | 11) Great Dane(could also have been a Saint Bernard or a Newfoundland) | Cherbourg | Paris and New York City | C-49 | Refused to get in a lifeboat without her dog. | Isham- no; dog-no. A woman was spotted by passengers on the German liner “Bremen” two days after the sinking, floating in her lifejacket with her arms wrapped around a large dog. |
| Elizabeth Barrett Rothschild, 54,wife of leather magnate Martin Rothschild, traveling with her husband | 12) Pomeranian | Cherbourg | New York City | Lifeboat 6 | Rothschild- yes; Pomeranian-yes Mrs. Rothschild and her dog were on the same boat as the famously unsinkable Molly Brown. Martin Rothschild went down with the ship. | |
| FICTIONAL Sam Harris, 12,returning to the U.S. after three years of boarding school in England. | Irish setter,”White Star,” owned by J. Bruce Ismay, president of the White Star Line and also a passenger on the Titanic. | Southampton for Sam; Queenstown, Ireland for the dog | Lancaster, PA. | B-47 | Lifeboat 4 | Sam- yes; Star- yes. Boy and dog were rescued from the water right after Lifeboat 4 was lowered. |
Posted in Dogs, special dogs and awards
Tagged Astors, dogs, Irish Setter, Marty Crisp, Pekingese, pomeranian, sinking, Titanic, White Star
The benefits of dogs in the workplace are the subject of new research published in the March issue of the International Journal of Workplace Health Management.
Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University found that the presence of dogs in the workplace may buffer the impact of stress during the work day in both their owners and the people that they come into contact with.
In this YouTube video, principal investigator Dr Randolph T Barker (no pun intended) talks about the costs of stress to employers through lost work time and the benefits of increased productivity.
The researchers conducted their study at Replacements Ltd, the pet-friendly workplace that I featured here in March 2011.
Although Dr Barker is a Professor of Management, he collaborated with specialists in psychiatry and biostatistics for this study. The researchers emphasise that their results are preliminary and that the next step is to expand the study to a larger sample size in an organisational setting.
I wonder which firm will put their hand up for that study?
“I like animals. If you talk to a dog or a cat it doesn’t tell you to shut up.”
– Marilyn Monroe
I’m a bit late with this one for St Patrick’s Day, but it is still worth watching. Watch this Border Collie ’round up his mates for a Guinness.’
Posted in Dogs, dogs in advertising
Tagged beer, Border Collie, Guinness, St Patrick's Day, YouTube
News broke this week that Megan Leavey, a former corporal with the US Marines, has won her fight to be reunited with her ex-partner Rex. Rex, her comrade-in-arms in Iraq, is a bomb-sniffing dog who is retiring at the age of 11.
Leavey originally asked to adopt Rex five years ago and was refused.
Both Megan and Rex were injured in 2006 when a bomb exploded in Ramadi. Corporal Leavey was awarded a Purple Heart and subsequently discharged in 2007. After her request to adopt Rex was declined, she followed the dog and his progress from afar. When it became clear that Rex was to be retired from duty and likely to be put down, Leavey lobbied again for her chance to take care of Rex.
These photos, courtesy of Megan Leavey, show the pair together.
Posted in special dogs and awards
Tagged bomb sniffing, Dog, german shepherd, Iraq, Marines, Megan Leavey, purple heart, Rex, The Times, us marines
Doctoral research by Randi I. Krontveit at the Norwegian School of Veterinary Science has revealed that environmental factors play a larger role in the development of hip dysplasia than previously thought.
The critical period is from birth to the age of three months. Activities such as walking up steps on a daily basis during this critical period increased the risk of developing hip dyplasia.
The study group consisted of 500 dogs in four breeds: the Labrador Retriever, the Newfoundland, the Leonberger and the Irish Wolfhound.
Randi I. Krontveit with two of her study subjects. Photo courtesy of the Norwegian School of Veterinary Medicine
Environmental factors were assessed by questionnaires filled out by breeders and owners alongside examinations by veterinarians. Dogs were followed for a period of ten years, making the findings of the study particularly robust.
Puppies born in the spring or summer and at breeders’ who lived on a farm or small holding had a lower risk of developing hip dysplasia. After about eight weeks, the puppies began to live with their new owners. The opportunity to exercise daily in parks up until the age of three months reduced the risk of hip dysplasia.
Overall, it would appear that daily exercise out in gently undulating terrain up until the age of three months has a positive impact when it comes to preventing the disease.
For more information about this research, you can email Dr Krontveit via this page at the Norwegian School of Veterinary Medicine.
Congratulations to Guiness, the Irish Wolfhound!
Posted in special dogs and awards
Tagged award, Christchurch, earthquake, Guinness, Irish Wolfhound, Local Hero Medal
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