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If you're looking for a place filled with joy, love, and a surge of oxytocin, Duke University’s Puppy Kindergarten is where it's at.
Run by evolutionary anthropologist Brian Hare and his wife, science journalist Vanessa Woods, this unique program trains puppies to become service dogs.
The kindergarten is a bustling hub where students and puppies interact, filling the air with positivity and warmth.
Oxytocin, often called the “cuddle chemical,” plays a crucial role in bonding. It’s the hormone that promotes feelings of love and connection in humans and animals alike.
This is especially true when it comes to dogs, who release oxytocin when they bond with people. Research has shown that even brief eye contact between dogs and humans can result in significant oxytocin spikes in both species.
At Duke, puppies are encouraged to make eye contact with their human handlers, a key part of their training.
The program features a simple yet effective game that helps identify the puppies’ problem-solving skills and their ability to bond with humans.
Puppies are presented with food in a container that gradually becomes harder to open. Their reactions reveal key traits—whether they persist independently or seek help by making eye contact with humans.
Puppies that seek help through eye contact are often more suited for service roles, like aiding people with disabilities.
On the other hand, puppies that persist in trying to solve problems on their own may be better suited for jobs like search and rescue.
Interestingly, this ability to bond with humans and ask for help isn’t common among all canines.
Studies with wolves have shown that they don’t make the same kind of eye contact with humans, highlighting the special evolutionary path that domesticated dogs have taken.
The bond between dogs and humans goes beyond behavior—it's also physical. Dogs have a unique facial muscle that allows them to make expressive, irresistible eye contact, which plays a big role in human-dog interactions.
This muscle movement mimics the way humans communicate, making dogs even more endearing to us.
Ultimately, while not every dog will become a service dog, the emotional work they do in homes around the world is equally valuable. Whether sniffing out danger or simply offering companionship, dogs have been our partners for over 23,000 years.
Programs like Puppy Kindergarten help strengthen this bond, ensuring that dogs continue to be both workers and companions for generations to come.
This joyful interspecies relationship isn’t just about training—it’s about love, understanding, and that unbeatable connection between humans and their furry friends.
ALSO READ | How to Keep Your Adult Dog Mentally Stimulated: Games and Activities
The bond between humans and dogs is built on love, trust, and centuries of companionship. Duke University’s Puppy Kindergarten showcases how nurturing this connection can lead to stronger, more intuitive service dogs. Whether offering emotional support or performing life-saving tasks, dogs continue to prove why they're our best friends, and this timeless bond will only grow stronger with time.
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