A new study has found that it takes dog lovers two minutes and seven seconds to know that a dog is "the one." The survey is based on the average time spent looking at a dog's photos before more than 2,000 potential dog owners sent adoption applications to animal shelters. The dogs participating in the study were a mix of breeds, sizes and ages.
The findings reveal that even when we're based entirely on a dog's photo or even a video, we immediately begin to build a connection.
Scientific studies show that oxytocin levels rise when people stare into a dog's eyes - this is known as the 'love hormone' and we associate trust, love and attachment to it.
And an expert in psychology and wellness at the University of Manchester, says the study reveals more about our relationship with dogs:
“There is a relatively close relationship between dogs and people, and it is certainly the case that people look for nonverbal cues from dogs, such as eye contact and facial expressions, to determine whether we like them and they like us.
“Studies with pet owners have shown that staring into our dog's eyes releases oxytocin in the brain and this plays an important role in how dog owners bond and form bonds with their dogs, just as parents and children do.
“This latest study reinforces the belief that whether people are in direct contact, face to face, or looking at dog photos online, how we interpret the relationship we have or could have with a dog stems from their eyes and facial expression when emotion is a factor.”
