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Stroke a Dog

 

Techniques Happiness > Stroke a Dog

Description | Discussion | See also

 

Description

Stroke a dog. Or a cat or other pet. You can hug them too, or otherwise play with them, as long as it's kind and they don't mind, of course.

A simpler version of this is to hug a teddy-bear or stroke a toy animal. It is not as effective as stroking a real animal but may be more practical if you do not have a pet. You can even stroke soft clothing or other hairy material.

Discussion

Stroking and otherwise 'petting' an animal has been shown to reduce stress and create relaxation. There seems to be something significant about how stroking hair or fur makes a person feel good. Perhaps it goes back to primitive grooming rituals, for example where apes remove fleas from one another.

The simple act of kindness also makes one feel (literally) good. Animals often like being stroked and show simple pleasure and apparent gratitude. Such simple relationships cost little effort and can be very gratifying.

Caressing and playing with young animals is often even more delightful, though of course if you keep a pet they will grow up. Hugging puppies is a classic theme that appears all over the place, from adverts to greeting cards.

Nagasawa et al (2009) found oxytocin increasing in dog owners just from looking into the pet's eyes. Dogs and other pets will hold your gaze for a long period which, between people, is a signal of affection. It is not surprising, then, that this feels good.

In 'Pet Therapy' or 'Animal-Assisted Therapy', dogs and other 'comfort animals' are taken into hospital for patients to stroke. Mind and body are intimately connected and a little comforting can go a long way.

See also

Hug Somebody

 

Nagasawa M., Kikusui T., Onaka T. and Ohta M. (2009). Dog's gaze at its owner increases owner's urinary oxytocin during social interaction. Hormones and Behavior, 55, 3, 434-41

 

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Site Menu

| Home | Top | Quick Links | Settings |

Main sections: | Disciplines | Techniques | Principles | Explanations | Theories |

Other sections: | Blog! | Quotes | Guest articles | Analysis | Books | Help |

More pages: | Contact | Caveat | About | Students | Webmasters | Awards | Guestbook | Feedback | Sitemap | Changes |

Settings: | Computer layout | Mobile layout | Small font | Medium font | Large font | Translate |

 

 

Please help and share:

 

Quick links

Disciplines

* Argument
* Brand management
* Change Management
* Coaching
* Communication
* Counseling
* Game Design
* Human Resources
* Job-finding
* Leadership
* Marketing
* Politics
* Propaganda
* Rhetoric
* Negotiation
* Psychoanalysis
* Sales
* Sociology
* Storytelling
* Teaching
* Warfare
* Workplace design

Techniques

* Assertiveness
* Body language
* Change techniques
* Closing techniques
* Conversation
* Confidence tricks
* Conversion
* Creative techniques
* General techniques
* Happiness
* Hypnotism
* Interrogation
* Language
* Listening
* Negotiation tactics
* Objection handling
* Propaganda
* Problem-solving
* Public speaking
* Questioning
* Using repetition
* Resisting persuasion
* Self-development
* Sequential requests
* Storytelling
* Stress Management
* Tipping
* Using humor
* Willpower

Principles

+ Principles

Explanations

* Behaviors
* Beliefs
* Brain stuff
* Conditioning
* Coping Mechanisms
* Critical Theory
* Culture
* Decisions
* Emotions
* Evolution
* Gender
* Games
* Groups
* Habit
* Identity
* Learning
* Meaning
* Memory
* Motivation
* Models
* Needs
* Personality
* Power
* Preferences
* Research
* Relationships
* SIFT Model
* Social Research
* Stress
* Trust
* Values

Theories

* Alphabetic list
* Theory types

And

About
Guest Articles
Blog!
Books
Changes
Contact
Guestbook
Quotes
Students
Webmasters

 

| Home | Top | Menu | Quick Links |

© Changing Works 2002-
Massive Content — Maximum Speed