A recent study from the University of Japan found that when dogs and their owners stared into each other’s eyes during a 30-minute period, both of their oxytocin levels increased. Oxytocin has also been called the love hormone and the cuddle hormone (see where we’re going with this?). It’s used to help mothers bond with their babies and it spikes when we’re around someone we love and trust. Lead scientist Takefumi Kikusui believes that this result could mean that the dogs were trying to form bonds with their owners – definitely a sign of trust.
Kenny Lamberti, acting vice president of companion animals at the US Humane Society, cautions that since dogs are individuals like humans, staring doesn’t necessarily mean the same thing every time it happens (for instance, if you notice her eyes are cloudy, she could be trying to tell you she’s actually sick). Body language and environment should be taken into consideration too.