A dog’s heart beats in sync with its owner’s, says new study
As a dog lover I am not surprised for one minute by this story:
Australian researchers separated three dogs from their owners, strapped heart monitors on them and then watched what happened when they were reunited.
They found that despite beating at different rates, their heartbeats followed the same pattern.
Each dog’s heart rose and fell with its master’s.
Researcher Mia Cobb, of Melbourne’s Monash University, said: “I was impressed at how much they came together. The fact that they shared patterns so closely surprised me. This kind of effect of experiencing a lowered heart rate makes a significant difference to our overall wellbeing. If we can decrease our heart rate by hanging out with our animals, that’s something that can really benefit the community.”
Fellow researcher Dr Craig Duncan said: “Stress is a major killer in today’s society and, as we get busier and busier, it is something that is really important for us to try to help with. The Hearts Aligned project aims to show how pet ownership can help us positively deal with the stressors of everyday life.”