Gillian Herold

Professor Zugnoni
UWP 1Y
1 December 2016
Owner-Dog Chemical Bond
Overview:
The owner-dog chemical bond is scientifically proven to be similar to the loving bond of
a mother and her infant. Currently, there are numerous articles and research on human-dog bonds
and their psychological aspects, but never one on the chemical aspects until 2009 (Nagasawa et
al. 2009). Dr. Miho Nagasawa and her colleagues, in the department of Animal Science and
Biotechnology at Azabu University in Japan, saw an opportunity for new and exciting research
and began researching Dogs advancing cognitive ability. Previously, no one experimented with
dogs because scientists believed they were genetically modified; therefore, the research would
not be representative of the true species (Nagasawa et al. 2009). This is due to the artificial
appearance of dogs through domestication, which caused scientists to be unsure of dogs true
visual cues leading researchers to avoid experimenting with the species. For this same reason, the
studies conducted at Azabu University are the first ever to analyze the oxytocin levels between
two different species, not just humans and dogs.

Dr. Nagasawa and her colleagues first published their research in 2009 analyzing the use
of social cues by dogs. The research study in 2009 concluded that dogs recognize their owners
figures and thus use certain visual cues to communicate with them. Since then, the 2015 study
expanded upon their previous research by proving that the owner-dog bond is the same as a
mother-infant bond through gazing, which involves an increase in each species oxytocin levels.
In order to analyze the bond, scientists conducted an experiment analyzing the urine of the owner
and dog for their oxytocin levels with different variables. Scientists also analyzed the dogs
ancestor, the wolf, and found that wolves did not have the same bond as humans and dogs do.
Thus, researchers discovered how dogs advanced their social cues allowing for stronger
connections with humans.

Science Magazine discusses the secrets of the owner-dog chemical bond.

History: First Study of Different Species Bond

2009 Study:
The first scientific study on biological attachment between humans and dogs first
appeared in research journals in 2009 after Nagasawa, Shohei Mitsui, Kazutaka Mogi, and

Takefumi Kikusui released their journal: Attachment Between Humans and Dogs. As of fifteen
years ago, no one considered studying dogs because they were viewed as genetically modified
by humans, and treated by humans as livestock therefore making it difficult for researchers to
get accurate data and discouraging scientists from experimenting with the species (Nagasawa et
al. 2009). Nagasawa, Mitsui, Mogi, and Kikusui found an opportunity to study the cognitive
aspect of dogs as there are plenty studies from the social sciences perspective ... [and] from the
perspectives of psychology and human medicine (Nagasawa et al. 2009).
As they explored the social cues dogs use with humans, the scientists were forced to use
data from studies in other species, (Nagasawa et al. 2009). This allowed them to compare and
contrast the cognitive ability and social cues of different species with humans to that of dogs.
From the compare and contrast, researchers found that dogs social cues were similar to cats
(another common pet), however, dogs demonstrated different cues catered to their interactions
with humans. Dogs, unlike cats, advanced their cognitive abilities to utilize attention-seeking
behaviors, which are similar to the gaze between a mother and her infant, in order to grow their
relationship with their owner. (Nagasawa et al. 2009).
2015 Study:
In 2009, Nagasawa and his colleagues analyzed the heart rate of strangers and the owner
of a dog in which they gazed into the dogs eyes. Their 2015 study built off of their original
experiment analyzing heartbeat while also becoming the first to analyze oxytocin levels between
members of different species, (Handwerk). The results showed that the dog had a more
noticeable effect after interactions with their owner versus various strangers.

Researchers, using these results, then hypothesized that the oxytocin levels would
increase in owners through their dog gazing at them (Nagasawa et al. 2009). This test, first
conducted in 2009, was further analyzed and released in the journal: Dog's Gaze at Its Owner
Increases Owner's Urinary Oxytocin During Social Interaction in 2015, expanding on the
oxytocin urine experiment. In order to analyze oxytocin levels of owners, researchers took urine
samples thirty minutes before and after gazing with their dogs and compared it to that of
strangers interactions with dogs. From the results, Nagasawa and his colleagues concluded that
dogs increase their owners oxytocin levels in a positive loop through gazing (Oxytocin-gaze
positive loop and the coevolution of human-dog bonds). It is crucial for dogs to gaze into their
owners eyes to form a bond that is essential for survival; this is also true for infants gazing into
their mothers eyes.

Experimental data from 2009-2015 research.

Evolution: Connecting with Humans

The 2015 journal examined the results of the oxytocin urine experiment and further
analyzed the owner-dog chemical bond by also experimenting with dogs ancestor, the wolf. For
the sake of evaluating dogs advancing cognitive ability, it was essential to experiment with
wolves to observe their social cues and bonds with humans. The same oxytocin experiment was
conducted with hand-raised wolves in which the wolves rarely gazed with their owners
(Nagasawa et al. 2009). The experiment analyzing both the wolves and handlers urine for
oxytocin levels showed only a change in the handlers oxytocin levels. However, the change was
not as significant as that of the experiment with dogs and their owners urine sample. There was
also no correlation between the duration of gazing to the change in oxytocin levels for wolves as
there was for dogs. Unlike dogs, wolves mostly gaze for long durations in order to threaten
another species and therefore avoid eye contact (Yong).
As researchers concluded that dogs advanced social skills from their ancestors, the
question became why did this species evolve to connect with humans? One theory Nagasawa
and his colleagues hypothesized is that dogs wanted to connect with humans in order to coexist
with humans because they adapted the bonding mechanism [used in] relations with humans,
(Handwerk). Scientists equate dog gazing to that of the mother-infant bond, claiming dogs
hijacked the chemical bond to cement a similarly strong bond with their owners, (Yong).
In a further analysis, researchers discovered why dogs greatly impacted the level of
oxytocin in their owners for a strong bond instead of increasing the levels of a stranger. The
answer was found after comparing dogs relationships with their owner to that of a mother-infant
bond. After comparing the two relationships, Nagasawa and the research group concluded that

dogs are able to bond or attach due to species-specific social cues and specific responses their
owners figure, brought about by neuroendocrinological homeostatic functions as well as
behavioral aspects, (Nagasawa et al. 2009). In other words, dogs are able to identify their
owners similar to children identifying their mother. Dogs are able to identify certain features
which triggers specific social cues allowing for a stronger bond.

Dogs and Wolves have striking similarities and come from a common ancestor.

Pop Culture: Child Substitutes

When Nagasawa and his colleagues study released in 2009, the study appeared in news
articles almost immediately, educating the general population and causing people to have a
greater appreciation of dogs and their advancing cognitive ability to bond with humans. The most
popular headlines discussed how dogs stole our hearts and can fulfill the role of a child. Thus,
appealing to people especially those who seek the bond with a human but dislike interaction or
do not want children.

Even before Nagasawa and his colleagues published their research, Millennials begun to
replace the traditional role of children with that of a pet, especially a dog. Statistically speaking,
pets outnumber children by 6 million. Since the first study in 1988, the presence of pets in
households increased by 9% (Pet Industry Market Size & Ownership Statistics). It is becoming
increasingly popular that owners refer to themselves as the parent of their pet. In 1996 a study
reported that 63% of dog owners gave their pets Christmas gifts, a traditional role for humans
interacting with other humans or loved-ones, (Cohen).
In a recent news article, the writer describes this epidemic as Generation Rex but in
research journals as early as 1970s R.A. Mugford refers to it as child substitutes, (Antenucci).
A child substitute is an alternative to the costly expenses and responsibility of being a parent,
which entails a similar role and strong bond. Millennials, or more specifically young women,
choose to care for a dog as their children instead of reproducing because of the easiness and the
lack of annoyances such as diaper changing or time commitment (Antenucci). In fact, recent
demographics show that less women are having children and are not getting married at the usual
age (Antenucci). Market Researcher Damian Shore stated that this same demographic is that of
people who buy small dogs, which in 2012 the number of small dogs skyrocketed by close to 7
million (Antenucci). Now with Miho Nagasawa, Shohei Mitsui, Kazutaka Mogi, and Takefumi
Kikusuis research it is scientifically proven that dogs can serve as a child substitute. Thus, child
substitutes are not just a lifestyle trend of the 2010s but an everyday occurrence.

Work Cited
Antenucci, A., & Li, D. K. More Young Women Choosing Dogs over Motherhood. New York
Post, 10 Apr. 2014. Web. 25 Oct. 2016.
Cohen, Susan Phillips. "Can Pets Function as Family Members?" Western Journal of Nursing
Research 24.6 (2002): 621-38. Web.
Gardner, Dee. Wolf to Woof: The Story of Dogs Exhibit Info. Mississippi Museum of
Natural Science. N.p., 27 Apr. 2015. Web. 01 Dec. 2016.
http://mmnsfoundation.com/upcoming-exhibit-wolf-to-woof-the-story-of-dogs/.
Handwerk, Brian. "Dog Gazes Hijack the Brain's Maternal Bonding System." Smithsonian.com.
Smithsonian.com, 16 Apr. 2015. Web. 18 Oct. 2016.
Nagasawa, M., Mitsui, S., En, S., Ohtani, N., Ohta, M., Sakuma, Y.,Onaka, T., Mogi, K., &
Kikusui, T. "Oxytocin-gaze Positive Loop and the Coevolution of Human-dog Bonds."
Science 348.6232 (2015): 333-36. Web.

Nagasawa, M., Kazutaka M., & Takefumi K. "Attachment between Humans and Dogs."
Japanese Psychological Research 51.3 (2009): 209-21. Web.
Nagasawa, M., Takefumi, K., Tatsushi, O., & Ohta, M. "Dog's Gaze at Its Owner Increases
Owner's Urinary Oxytocin during Social Interaction." Hormones and Behavior 55.3
(2009): 434-41. Web.
Pet Industry Market Size & Ownership Statistics. Pet Industry Market Size & Ownership
Statistics. American Pet Production Association, n.d. Web. 25 Oct. 2016.
Tenenbaum, David J. THE WHY FILES: THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE NEWS. Comp. S. V.
Medaris and Kevin Barrett. Ed. Terry Devitt. N.p., n.d.. Web. 01 Dec. 2016.
<http://whyfiles.org/2015/dogs-and-their-owners-a-chemical-bond/>.
Yong, Ed. "Through This Chemical Loop, Dogs Win Our Hearts ..." National Geographic. N.p.,
16 Apr. 2015. Web. 18 Oct. 2016.