Oxytocin, often called the “bonding hormone”, plays a key role in strengthening social bonds across species. This research compared hand-raised, pack-living wolves, pack-living dogs, and pet dogs to investigate whether oxytocin responses during human interaction stem from domestication or life experience.
Both wolves and dogs preferred interacting with a bonded human over a merely familiar one, but dogs displayed less variation in human-directed sociability. In pack-living animals, physical contact with a non-bonded human was linked to increased glucocorticoids, indicating higher stress levels. However, in pet dogs, physical contact with their owners was positively correlated with oxytocin concentrations, while glucocorticoid levels remained unchanged.
The findings reveal that, when wolves and dogs share similar upbringing and social exposure, their behavioral and hormonal differences are subtle. The marked oxytocin surge in pet dogs appears to be a result of life experience with humans—including daily contact, training, and emotional bonding—rather than domestication history alone.
This suggests that the deep emotional connection between dogs and humans can be strengthened through consistent, positive social interaction, with pet life providing the context that fosters this hormonal bonding response.
Source: Wirobski, G., Range, F., Schaebs, F. S., Palme, R., Deschner, T., & Marshall-Pescini, S., Scientific Reports, July 13, 2021.
