The concept of “snorting” an Oxytocin spray isn’t entirely new.
That’s the hormone – not the opiate drug – for my half-awake readers. Called the “cuddle hormone” (or trust chemical, or moral molecule), this is the thing that floods our system when we make connections with other people or creatures – especially those that involve trust in scary situations.
(Example? Levels after sky-diving sky-rocket).
Now, scientists are showing that dogs respond to this hormone too. And as social creatures, if they inhale the airborne body chemical, they too tend to catch a case of the same warm and fuzzies that we get from them when we see their fluffy butts wagging along with their tails.
The idea that a spray that could dissolve a dog’s fear is fantastic. Mayhaps it’d even work on those Cujo shelter dogs no one can seem to find homes for (because for some – all they know is the Vick lifestyle and they’re certain that whatever hand touches them next is going to drown or electrocute them). If they could be drugged into loving people, then they could be Cesar Milan’d into connecting with human folk in general like they’re meant to.
So this is just more evidence that dogs are people too.
And that you’re a psychopath if you don’t like them.
And just for fun – once you’ve magically hypnotized your canine into trusting and loving you – you can lightheartedly obliterate it with: magic. When I got sent this video of dogs getting duped by random acts of Blaine and Copperfield, I think I sat – drooling in delight for a good hour, and then spending an additional hour sending the videos to all my friends. And ever since, I’ve been looking for an excuse to add it into an article:
Ah. Now we all have a delightful flood of endorphins coursing through us.
As for this new nasal creation? Oxytocin snout spray benefits would be manifold. First, I can make my sister’s poor misunderstood creature (who almost bit off my dad’s finger and who has to wear a Hannibal Lechter mask when strangers are around) love me.
Also, we can load it into a bong and bond with our dogs over the weekend.
Like a half-furry homeopathic stoner couple.
I just wonder – dogs and peeps alike – could we get addicted to something we make naturally? Like how some people will only rely on their jungle quests of annual DMTea drinking – versus practicing hacks year round of the self-calming genre that can do the same? Similarly, would we stop doing those courageous greater-good-connect-kindly-with-people stuff? To earn our daily dose of ‘tocin? The way evolution intended?
My prediction: Good for dogs who aren’t self-aware enough to be selfish.
Perhaps less good for people who don’t need another external crutch to rely on for functionality.