Your Dog Just Might Be Smiling At You

I always assumed that if my dog was relaxed, cozied up next to me with a sparkle in her eye and the corners of her mouth turned up in a smile, she was happy. It turns out that this is probably true!

Recent research done by Patricia McConnell, a certified applied animal behaviorist with a PhD. in zoology, shows that humans and dogs have a similar brain structure that stimulates emotions. This was determined by imaging their brains the same way as human brain imaging is done. They also have the same neurotransmitters and hormones in their systems, which effect their emotions similarly to ours.

“We are emotionally connected to dogs at our limbic systems – perhaps that’s why we love them so much,” McConnell says.

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