Study: Dogs Morph Into Heroic First Responders At Sound Of Owners’ Cries

With their wagging tails, slobbery kisses and unconditional cuddles, our beloved best friends are dedicated to making us feel like top dogs. But just how loyal to you is your precious pooch? Would he or she instinctively push doors open to rescue you should you need help? Believe it or not, they might just do that — and a lot more, according to a new study.

Researchers at Johns Hopkins University tested the extent dogs would go to check upon the state of a crying owner, measuring just how far and fast they’d go to get to their loved ones.

“Every dog owner has a story about coming home from a long day, sitting down for a cry and the dog’s right there, licking their face. In a way, this is the science behind that,” says lead author Emily Sanford, a graduate student in psychological and brain sciences at the university, in a statement.

Previous studies explained canines’ strong reactions to human crying, but this study sought to demonstrate the science behind the speedy responses.

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