Can Dogs Really Feel Your Pain?

A study published this week in the journal Animal Cognition explores dogs' responses to "distressed" humans, and confirms what many of us know: dogs are comforting creatures. Even when presented with a stranger pretending to cry, dogs sniffed, nuzzled and licked the stranger. While it's not clear if the dogs "empathy-like" responses are evidence of an innate trait or conditioning (having been rewarded for that behavior in the past), researchers Deborah Custace and Jennifer Mayer posit that it may be a combination. Those who have worked with service and comfort dogs can attest to the patience and empathy dogs can show. Check out 7 places dogs can offer comfort! - By Joselyn Gray

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