Stephen: Petting a dog can have long-term health benefits

A recent study found that students who played with dogs regularly showed lower stress levels and improved reasoning skills, and the benefits lasted a month later.

“There’s some evidence that may exist six months later,” Nancy Gee of Virginia Commonwealth University said.

Dog ownership is also linked to a 33% drop in heart attack death risk compared to those who live alone. And, as it turns out, playing with us might be good for dogs, too!

“We see the same thing in the dogs,” Gee said. “So the dogs’ oxytocin also increases when they interact with a human.”