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Dogs could be undergoing a third wave of domestication driven by humans' desire for pets that are friendly, calm and well-suited to a sedentary lifestyle.
Just decades ago, canines were seen as working animals, tasked with hunting pests, herding livestock and guarding their homes.
But today, companionship is a much higher priority for pet owners.
Scientists have found that this shift has increased levels of a hormone responsible for social bonding in dogs, and especially in service dogs.
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A study concluded that the hormone - oxytocin - is what drives dogs to seek contact with their owners.
As humans domesticated wolves into the affectionate pets we know today, canines' sensitivity to oxytocin increased, according to the researchers.
The study, conducted by researchers at Sweden's Linköping University in 2017, investigated how dogs developed their unique ability to work together with humans, including their willingness to 'ask for help' when faced with a difficult problem.
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