According to a scientific study published in the journal Emotion, interacting with your furry friend can have a positive impact on your mood and stress levels. Researchers conducted a stress test on 73 dog owners in the United States and assigned them to one of three groups - experimental, active control, or inactive control.
After interacting with their dogs following a stressful task, participants experienced increased mood and reduced anxiety compared to the other two control groups. The study found that the time spent actively engaging with the dog during the interaction was more important for improving mood outcomes than any specific behaviors, such as physical touch. So, if you're feeling stressed or anxious, spending some quality time with your furry friend could be the perfect solution!