The Purest Bond

September 4, 2023
University of Maryland, College Park computer scientist Golbeck, who runs an Instagram account focused on golden retrievers she rescues, teams up with health writer Colino (coauthor of Emotional Inflammation) to deliver a fetching examination of the benefits of owning a dog. Human–dog bonds can produce physical effects, the authors contend, noting scientific studies that found petting dogs provides a surge of the pleasurable hormone oxytocin for the person and the dog, and that canines are so attuned to their owners’ emotions that their stress levels (“as measured by cortisol levels in their hair/fur”) fluctuate “in sync with their owners’ stress levels.” Dogs can also provide support to people with mental illness, as illustrated by a study that found people with depression, bipolar disorder, or schizoaffective disorder reported feeling less anxious after living with an emotional service dog for a year. The research adds scientific support to some common assumptions (one study confirmed that dogs can “process vocal intonations and pick up on the emotional valence of what’s being said”), while pushing back on others, as when the authors warn dog owners against taking on a “dominant ‘alpha’ role” because domesticated dogs have a more fluid social structure than wolves and get stressed when their humans assert dominance. Informative and fun, this is a treat.

September 1, 2023
In our turbulent times, the unconditional love of a dog is more important than ever. Humans have had canine companions since before history was recorded, and there is an excellent reason for it. Dogs are good for us, and we are good for them; this book explains how and why. Golbeck is a scientist whose research field is personality and psychology, and Colino is an award-winning writer who specializes in health and psychology. Both are lifelong dog lovers. They add the surprisingly large body of research into human-dog interaction to their own experience, finding that people with dogs in their lives are happier and healthier. Part of this might be because they are more likely to exercise, but there is also the aspect that such indicators as blood pressure and heart rate improve by simply petting a dog. Then there is the emotional side, with dogs providing crucial support. During the pandemic, many people looked to dogs to counter isolation. "Dogs can...serve as a sort of balm to mental health struggles and ongoing stress," write the authors. "Our canine companions help us feel grounded and present-minded, leading by example." Interestingly, studies on brain chemistry in dogs have shown that they enjoy interacting with people, and their affection goes well beyond the food bowl. The book has plenty of feel-good stories about dogs who helped people through illnesses and sometimes even detected a health problem at an early stage by smelling biochemical changes. Golbeck and Colino provide guidance on choosing the right dog, developing a relationship with it, and how, when the time comes, to say goodbye. "Dogs can lend a sense of stability and permanency when life feels chaotic," they conclude. "They serve as a bright, integral thread in the fabric of our lives." A charming, lucid exploration of how dogs can heal our bodies, minds, and hearts.

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September 1, 2023

A computer science specialist whose social media platform, Golden Ratio, celebrates her many golden retrievers, Golbeck joins with health/psychology journalist Colino to provide scientific evidence that dog companionship--what might be called The Purest Bond --is really good for us. Prepub Alert.

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