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the science of the human-dog bond, which she does in her new book The Purest Bond: Understanding the Human-Canine Connection, written with science writer Stacey Colino.

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We opened the book with middle school me. I was bullied. Everything in life sucked. I was also really depressed—kind of borderline suicidal. I was having a really hard time, and my parents could tell that something was wrong. But they didn’t put me in therapy. They bought me a golden retriever puppy—his name was Major—which turned out to be totally the right move. (I did end up in therapy later, which was great. Don’t skip therapy.) I call him “my suicide prevention dog”—that’s what he lives on as in my heart. He was everything I needed at that point: He was nonjudgmental and wanted to be with me. He was the only entity in the universe I didn’t feel awkward around. I could confide in him. He gave me this place to get away from all of those other problems and feel like I was important and I mattered and I was worthy. I loved dogs before that, but he was the first one who kind of opened my eyes to the real power that that relationship can have, that it can be really transformative. Fast-forward a bunch of time: we rescue special-needs golden retrievers; currently we have five of them. We take in seniors, hospice cases and ones with complicated medical needs. It’s so rewarding. We get to watch them transform from these really sick, broken dogs into happy, joyful dogs who appreciate this warm, gentle life.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-internets-dog-mom-talks-the-science-of-the-human-dog-bond/

Nice supplement:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/the-surprising-health-benefits-of-dog-ownership/

Jen looks for the problem dogs, the ones with severe medical problems and soon they are a happy member of the pack, We get something back when we adopt a dog. Read the article and the book.

Amazon blurb on the book:


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The Purest Bond: Understanding the Human-Canine Connection Hardcover – 14 November 2023 by Jen Golbeck (Author), Stacey Colino (Author) 4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars    49 ratings See all formats and editions A feel-good, comprehensive exploration of the profound bond between humans and dogs from Jen Golbeck, the "internet's dog mom" behind the massive social media platform The Golden Ratio, and Stacey Colino, an award-winning science writer. Dogs have been considered people's best friend for thousands of years, but never has the relationship between humans and their canine companions been as vitally important as it is today. With all of the seismic shifts in today's world, rates of anxiety and depression have been skyrocketing, and people have been turning to their dogs for solace and stability. Amidst these dire realities, something wonderful has taken shape. In the United States alone, dog adoptions doubled during the COVID-19 pandemic. As people have brought furry friends into their lives for the first time or seized this opportunity to deepen the connections they already have, they are looking to understand how owning a dog can change their lives. Now, The Purest Bond explores the benefits our dogs can have on our physical, emotional, cognitive, and social well-being, often without our realizing it. Weaving together groundbreaking research and touching real-life stories, The Purest Bond explores not just the social benefits of owning a dog but the science of how dogs improve our emotional and physical health, mental acuity, and our ability to focus and absorb information. Most importantly, they remind us of what's right in the world--love, trust, affection, playtime, fresh air, and sunshine--even when so much feels wrong.