Overview
- No new primary studies were announced; August 14–15 stories synthesize prior interdisciplinary research into accessible guidance for pet owners.
- Face-to-face verbal exchanges create an oxytocin “positive loop” between humans and dogs, strengthening attachment bonds.
- Neuroimaging studies show dogs’ reward centers respond more strongly to their owner’s voice than to strangers’, highlighting voice’s special significance.
- Talking to dogs offers people a nonjudgmental space to process emotions, lowering cortisol and aiding emotional regulation.
- Experts recommend using short, clear phrases in a warm, dog-directed tone and setting healthy boundaries to avoid emotional overdependence.