Why We Love Dogs More Than People

It’s no secret that humans feel a strong connection to our canine friends. We cry when dogs die in movies. We consider pets to be members of the family. But, do we actually prefer dogs over people? Well, sometimes. One reason we care about house pets so much is because we can bond with them as if they were human babies. Recent findings published in Science show that owners who stare into their dogs' eyes have higher levels of oxytocin, a hormone that plays a part in forming the parent-child bond. The researchers concluded that we are likely forming a similar bond with our pets. As for choosing a dog over a person, one study asked participants whom they would save if they saw a bus headed straight towards their dog and a foreign tourist. And, um, wow: 40% of participants chose the dog over the human. Watch the video above to learn more about puppy love.