No need for a cape to be a hero: The superpower of our dogs đŸđŠžâïž
Updated 17 October 2026
In short: with no cape or medal, your dog has four very real superpowers: it calms you (calm interactions with a dog lower cortisol and raise oxytocin), it gets you moving (dog ownership is linked to lower cardiovascular risk), it structures your days, and it connects you with neighbours. That said, a dog isn't a treatment: it complements, it doesn't replace.
What are your dog's superpowers?
The soother
After a few minutes of calm stroking, oxytocin rises in both human and dog, and cortisol (the stress hormone) drops in the human (Odendaal and Meintjes, 2003).
The coach
Rain or shine, you have to go out. The American Heart Association considers dog ownership probably associated with lower cardiovascular risk (2013).
The timekeeper
Meals, walks, bedtime: its routine sets your rhythm and gets your eyes off the screen.
The icebreaker
In a survey across four cities, pet owners were more likely to get to know neighbours thanks to their pet (Wood et al., 2015).
What does science really show?
My dog senses when I'm sad.
TRUEIn an exploratory study, dogs approached a person pretending to cry more than one humming (Custance and Mayer, 2012). Whether this is "empathy" in the human sense is still debated.
Stroking a dog lowers stress instantly.
IT DEPENDSThe hormonal effect was measured after 5 to 24 minutes of calm interaction. It's quick, but not instant, and depends on the relationship with the dog.
Dog owners live longer.
TRUEA meta-analysis of nearly 4 million people found about 24% lower mortality (Kramer et al., 2019). It's an association: other factors may be involved.
A dog can replace therapy.
FALSEIt can help (company, routine, getting out), but doesn't replace medical or psychological care.
And your dog, what's its specialty?
My dog is a hero because itâŠ
How does it know you're coming home? Discover the olfactory clock. And for comfortable walks, our Confort harness keeps the throat free.
Frequently asked questions
Does a dog reduce stress?
Yes, calm interactions with a dog are linked to lower cortisol and higher oxytocin, measured after a few minutes.
Is having a dog good for your heart?
The American Heart Association considers dog ownership probably associated with lower cardiovascular risk, partly thanks to physical activity.
Do dogs understand our emotions?
They react to our facial expressions and voice, and approach a distressed person more. The exact mechanism is still being studied.
Does a dog help you meet people?
Yes, studies show pets make it easier to talk to neighbours, especially on walks.
Sources
- Odendaal J.S.J., Meintjes R.A. (2003). Neurophysiological correlates of affiliative behaviour between humans and dogs. The Veterinary Journal 165(3), 296-301.
- Levine G.N. et al. (2013). Pet ownership and cardiovascular risk: a scientific statement from the American Heart Association. Circulation 127(23), 2353-2363.
- Kramer C.K., Mehmood S., Suen R.S. (2019). Dog ownership and survival: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes 12(10), e005554.
- Custance D., Mayer J. (2012). Empathic-like responding by domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) to distress in humans: an exploratory study. Animal Cognition 15, 851-859.
- Wood L. et al. (2015). The pet factor: companion animals as a conduit for getting to know people, friendship formation and social support. PLOS ONE 10(4), e0122085.