Dogs cry tears of joy when they are reunited with their owners.
Dogs cry tears of joy when their owners return home
A new study, published in the journal Current Biology, found that pooches shed tears during happy situations.
Lead author Professor Takefumi Kikusui was inspired to do the study after noticing that his poodle had tears in her eyes after giving birth six years ago.
During the study, experts added the "love hormone" oxytocin to the dogs' eyes and the results supported the theory that a canine sheds tears after spotting its owner.
Previous research has found that oxytocin is released when dogs play with their owners but this is the first study to link the hormone to tears.
Professor Kikusui, from Azabu University in Japan, said: "We had never heard of the discovery that animals shed tears in joyful situations, such as reuniting with their owners, and we were all excited that this would be a world first.
"Dogs have become a partner of humans, and we can form bonds. In this process, it is possible that the dogs that show teary eyes during interaction with the owner would be cared for by the owner more."