Scientists Explain Why We Can’t Resist Puppy Dog Eyes

Plants and Animals





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A student playing with a Labrador retriever named Hook. His gazing behavior increased his owner’s urinary oxytocin (experiment 1) but his gazing behavior did not increase after administered oxytocin (experiment 2) / Mikako Mikura

Oxytocin, or the love hormone, helps reinforce the bond between a parent and a child. And now, researchers working with man’s best friend reveal that dogs have tapped into—or hijacked, some might say—this same instinctual bonding mechanism. Gazing into those sweet puppy dog eyes increases our oxytocin levels, and theirs too.