Research

The Science Behind the Bond

Every HABIC therapy animal visit is a story of connection—but it’s also part of something bigger. Through research, we measure and share the impact of the human-animal bond on health, learning, and quality of life.

Research News

Examining the role of visual access in marker-based training effectiveness

Congratulations to HABIC Lead Animal Trainer Kate Miller on the publication of “Out of sight, click in mind: Visual access moderates the effectiveness of marker-based training,” in Human-Animal Interactions, co-authored by Shelby E. McDonald and Jennie K. Willis.

This study provides the first quantitative evidence that the effectiveness of marker-based training depends on visual context. Specifically, it shows that using a marker (like a clicker) plus a food reward works better than using food alone when the animal can’t clearly see the trainer.

Exploring race, history, and human-animal relationships

Congratulations to Jada Ford, HABIC Fellow and doctoral student in CSU’s School of Social Work, on the publication of her study “Black Americans and Animals: History, Empathy, and Racialized Barriers in Human-Animal Relationships” in Human-Animal Interactions, co-authored by Seana Dowling-Guyer, Megan K. Mueller, and Shelby McDonald.

Ford’s research demonstrates that Black Americans’ relationships with animals are deeply relational and structurally contingent, shaped by social, economic, and historical forces that structure racial inequity in the U.S.

What is the human-animal bond?

The American Veterinary Medical Association defines the human-animal bond as “a mutually beneficial relationship between people and animals. It’s influenced by behaviors essential to the mental, physical, and social health and wellbeing of both.”

Research shows that this bond can positively impact both people and animals in many ways:

Boosts bonding hormones: Petting or making eye contact with a dog can increase oxytocin—a brain chemical linked to empathy, trust, and connection.
Reduces stress: Interacting with dogs has been shown to lower cortisol (the body’s main stress hormone), ease anxiety, and improve mood and overall wellbeing.
Provides companionship: Pets offer friendship and comfort. During the COVID-19 pandemic, pet ownership helped reduce feelings of loneliness while supporting mental and physical health.
Encourages social connection: Animals often spark interactions with others, which can be especially valuable for seniors or people at risk of social isolation.
Supports physical health: Pets get us moving and can even benefit heart health—studies link pet ownership to a lower risk of hypertension.