February 2018

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M.Leslie

They call it Puppy Love Edition

Allyn and Betty Taylor Library

Ever wonder why your dog

stares at you? It’s not only be-

cause they want a cookie! It’s

because they L-O-V-E you.

We have all heard how there is

a beneficial bond between hu-

mans and their doggy compan-

ions. I cannot speak for others,

but this is definitely true with

my dog and I. I adore her! She

is not just a dog to me. She is

my buddy, my “partner in

crime”, a member of the fami-

ly. When you have this bond

with your dog, it is truly some-

thing special.

Nagasawa et al. conducted a

study that focused on the levels of oxytocin levels between owners and

their dogs, when sharing a long mutual gaze. It was discovered that the

level of oxytocin was quite high when there was a gaze between owner

and their pup. Oxytocin, is a darling little peptide, that has been called

the “cuddle hormone”. This cuddle hormone has been linked to the so-

cial bonding and is pivotal to the flood of hormonal changes leading up

to and after birth.

This study proved that the bond between a dog and its owner is in fact

comparable to the mother-infant relationship. They concluded that the

levels of oxytocin were not as high, when the gaze is shared between a

dog and an unknown person.

So, there you have it, Fido really does love you! So give your furry little

friend an extra treat and a pat for truly being a human’s best friend.

Need research help from

home? Chat with us!

Staff are available online

to help with all of your

library questions.

Hecht, J. (April 2015). Is the gaze from those Big Puppy Eyes the look of your doggie’s love? Scientific American Mind. Retrieved from https://

www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-the-gaze-from-those-big-puppy-eyes-the-look-of-your-doggie-s-love/

Nagasawa, M., Kikusui, T., Onaka, T., Ohta, M. (2009). Dog's gaze at its owner increases owner's urinary oxytocin during social interaction.

Hormones and Behavior., 55(3), 434-441. Retrieved from https://journals.scholarsportal.info/pdf/0018506x/v55i0003/434_dgaioiouodsi.xml

February hours

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Thursday Sunday Friday Saturday

Taylor 8am-

11pm

10:30am-

9pm 8am-9pm

10:30am-

9pm

InfoDesk 9am-5pm

10:30am-

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Dog facts

What do you call a group of dogs? A kennel of

dogs.

Dogs have three eyelids! An upper lid, a lower

lid and a nictitating membrane or haw lid. The

third eyelid protects the eye and helps keep it

moist.

Chow Chow dogs are born with pink tongues,

and they start to turn the blue-black around 8

to 10 weeks of age.

What do you call a group of greyhounds? A

leash of greyhounds

Taylor Hours: February 16-24 Family day weekend & Reading Week

Feb. 16 Feb.

17 -19 Feb.

20 - 22 Feb. 23 Feb. 24

8am-5pm CLOSED 8am-9pm 8am-5pm CLOSED