Touching your dog has surprising health benefits for both of you.

by Lexiann Grant

Those of us who like dogs can’t help but touch them. We are irresistibly drawn to adore them with our hands, to pet them, stroke them, rub their ears, and get lost in the ecstasy of dog beneath our fingertips. Dogs pull not only our hearts but also our hands into a companionship of touch, a relationship we hope is mutually satisfying.

When touching your dog, whether in a casual caress or in a therapeutic massage session, look for signs that she’s comfortable, such as closed or closing eyes and relaxed ears.

Caressing a dog can be a direct line to nirvana, calming nerves, lifting mood, relieving suffering, a spiritual experience that soothes the soul. Touching a dog feels so good because our body responds with a release of the neurochemicals of pleasure that have positive physiological effects as…

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