1 00:00:15,436 --> 00:00:25,356 Speaker 1: Pushkin. The first day I saw Georgia, she was about 2 00:00:25,356 --> 00:00:28,116 Speaker 1: a six month old puppy, and she just had these 3 00:00:28,156 --> 00:00:32,036 Speaker 1: amazing big pointed ears and her brindle coat, and I 4 00:00:32,076 --> 00:00:35,556 Speaker 1: had never seen anything like her. This is Motorsports reporter 5 00:00:35,796 --> 00:00:40,916 Speaker 1: Laurette Nichol. It was magnetic. As soon as I saw her, 6 00:00:41,076 --> 00:00:44,116 Speaker 1: I knew that she was meant for me, And the 7 00:00:44,236 --> 00:00:47,036 Speaker 1: exact thought I had in my head is that's my puppy. 8 00:00:47,636 --> 00:00:50,636 Speaker 1: These days, the pair are pretty much inseparable. In fact, 9 00:00:50,716 --> 00:00:53,596 Speaker 1: Georgia was happily sniffing around Lorette's feet as we talked 10 00:00:53,596 --> 00:00:55,796 Speaker 1: over Zoom, George, do you want to come up here? 11 00:00:56,956 --> 00:00:59,676 Speaker 1: She's being shy all of a sudden, But it wasn't 12 00:00:59,676 --> 00:01:01,956 Speaker 1: obvious back when the pair first met that they would 13 00:01:01,996 --> 00:01:04,596 Speaker 1: even have a chance to be together. The first and 14 00:01:04,676 --> 00:01:07,756 Speaker 1: perhaps most obvious obstacle to their union was the huge 15 00:01:07,836 --> 00:01:10,876 Speaker 1: chain length fence that separated with them. Georgia was a 16 00:01:10,916 --> 00:01:13,596 Speaker 1: street puppy. A neighbor had found her and was keeping 17 00:01:13,636 --> 00:01:16,356 Speaker 1: her temporarily penned up until he could find a way 18 00:01:16,396 --> 00:01:18,716 Speaker 1: to get the stray off his hands. I just kept 19 00:01:18,756 --> 00:01:22,116 Speaker 1: explaining to him how special I thought that she was, 20 00:01:22,316 --> 00:01:25,996 Speaker 1: and he finally told me, he's like, I'm taking her 21 00:01:26,076 --> 00:01:30,836 Speaker 1: to the pound because she keeps running away. Laurette hated 22 00:01:30,876 --> 00:01:32,956 Speaker 1: the thought of Georgia going off to a shelter in 23 00:01:33,036 --> 00:01:36,716 Speaker 1: some unknown future, but she also wasn't feeling ready to 24 00:01:36,716 --> 00:01:39,796 Speaker 1: adopt a new puppy. In the end, it was Georgia 25 00:01:39,836 --> 00:01:42,836 Speaker 1: who made her feelings known. I was making breakfast. I 26 00:01:42,876 --> 00:01:45,876 Speaker 1: had to go get something from another room, and when 27 00:01:45,916 --> 00:01:49,596 Speaker 1: I came back, this nine month old puppy was, all 28 00:01:49,596 --> 00:01:53,436 Speaker 1: of a sudden standing in my kitchen. Lorette responsibly returned 29 00:01:53,436 --> 00:01:58,356 Speaker 1: the puppy, who promptly escaped again and again. So the 30 00:01:58,396 --> 00:02:01,916 Speaker 1: third time that I put her back and she came back, 31 00:02:01,956 --> 00:02:04,556 Speaker 1: I just put a note on my neighbor's gate saying 32 00:02:04,676 --> 00:02:08,236 Speaker 1: I have Georgia. Please call me. And that's when I said, 33 00:02:08,436 --> 00:02:10,796 Speaker 1: you know, I really love this dog. Can I keep her? 34 00:02:10,956 --> 00:02:14,796 Speaker 1: And he said yet, Just like that, that was the 35 00:02:14,836 --> 00:02:19,196 Speaker 1: beginning of our life together. George's persistence had finally paid off, 36 00:02:19,596 --> 00:02:22,516 Speaker 1: but Lorette's reluctance to take on a pet had been genuine. 37 00:02:23,036 --> 00:02:25,636 Speaker 1: When the pair began their journey together, Laurette was going 38 00:02:25,636 --> 00:02:29,676 Speaker 1: through an awful health situation. I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. 39 00:02:30,276 --> 00:02:34,036 Speaker 1: I had to go through six rounds of chemotherapy and 40 00:02:34,196 --> 00:02:38,516 Speaker 1: twenty five rounds of radiation therapy, and the radiation really 41 00:02:38,756 --> 00:02:42,116 Speaker 1: took a toll on my body, and so I needed 42 00:02:42,116 --> 00:02:45,476 Speaker 1: to recover from it, not only physically but mentally. The 43 00:02:45,556 --> 00:02:49,276 Speaker 1: new puppy didn't become the burden Lorette was initially expecting. Instead, 44 00:02:49,476 --> 00:02:53,236 Speaker 1: Lorette describes Georgia as her savior. There's some days that 45 00:02:53,276 --> 00:02:55,236 Speaker 1: I can really talk about it, and then some days 46 00:02:55,276 --> 00:02:59,316 Speaker 1: that it's a challenge, and sometimes it sneaks up on me. 47 00:03:00,076 --> 00:03:03,236 Speaker 1: Which is doing right now. But I think for me 48 00:03:03,396 --> 00:03:05,876 Speaker 1: on the days where I just thought this is hard, 49 00:03:05,916 --> 00:03:08,316 Speaker 1: this is challenging, I don't know if I can do this, 50 00:03:08,836 --> 00:03:11,436 Speaker 1: I just I want to go back to sleep. On 51 00:03:11,476 --> 00:03:14,956 Speaker 1: those days, Georgia walked in the room and she's like, hey, mom, 52 00:03:15,116 --> 00:03:17,996 Speaker 1: I love you, and it gives you that little bit 53 00:03:18,116 --> 00:03:23,356 Speaker 1: of Okay, yep, let's push through. I get this. We 54 00:03:23,476 --> 00:03:26,156 Speaker 1: sometimes take for granted just how much support our pets 55 00:03:26,196 --> 00:03:29,396 Speaker 1: and particularly our dogs, offer us and just how much 56 00:03:29,476 --> 00:03:32,916 Speaker 1: their companionship can bring us joy. Loreca and George's story 57 00:03:32,996 --> 00:03:36,396 Speaker 1: shows the true power of the human canine bond. The 58 00:03:36,476 --> 00:03:39,396 Speaker 1: research shows that there are evidence based ways to maximize 59 00:03:39,396 --> 00:03:41,756 Speaker 1: the benefits we get from our dogs, and that there 60 00:03:41,756 --> 00:03:44,756 Speaker 1: may be ways to achieve those animal induced benefits even 61 00:03:44,796 --> 00:03:47,036 Speaker 1: if you don't have a pet of your own. But 62 00:03:47,076 --> 00:03:49,876 Speaker 1: the science shows that the happiness dividend dogs and other 63 00:03:49,916 --> 00:03:53,636 Speaker 1: companion animals provide is often more complicated than we expect. 64 00:03:54,116 --> 00:03:56,356 Speaker 1: If we're not careful, we can end it for only 65 00:03:56,396 --> 00:03:59,076 Speaker 1: impede the happiness boost we could be getting from our 66 00:03:59,076 --> 00:04:05,116 Speaker 1: furry friends. Our minds are constantly telling us what to 67 00:04:05,196 --> 00:04:07,636 Speaker 1: do to be happy. But what if our minds are wrong? 68 00:04:07,996 --> 00:04:10,716 Speaker 1: What if our minds are to us, leading us away 69 00:04:10,716 --> 00:04:13,516 Speaker 1: from what will really make us happy. The good news 70 00:04:13,596 --> 00:04:15,676 Speaker 1: is the understanding the science of the mind can point 71 00:04:15,756 --> 00:04:19,276 Speaker 1: us all back in the right direction. You're listening to 72 00:04:19,316 --> 00:04:29,436 Speaker 1: the Happiness Lab with doctor Laurie Santos. Now, I'm guessing 73 00:04:29,476 --> 00:04:31,836 Speaker 1: that most of my podcast listeners know will be best 74 00:04:31,876 --> 00:04:34,116 Speaker 1: for my work on happiness and the class I teach 75 00:04:34,156 --> 00:04:36,556 Speaker 1: on the science of well being. But long before I 76 00:04:36,596 --> 00:04:39,796 Speaker 1: became a happiness expert, I had a slightly different psychology career. 77 00:04:39,836 --> 00:04:44,956 Speaker 1: Gath Hey Bailey, welcome. I studied animals and how they think, 78 00:04:45,356 --> 00:04:47,596 Speaker 1: and that means I spent a lot of time around 79 00:04:47,636 --> 00:04:54,516 Speaker 1: cute pooches. Welcome to the Canine Cognitions. Back in twenty thirteen, 80 00:04:54,556 --> 00:04:58,036 Speaker 1: I set up Yale's first Canine Cognition Center. My students 81 00:04:58,036 --> 00:05:00,156 Speaker 1: and I bring dogs from the community into the center 82 00:05:00,196 --> 00:05:03,156 Speaker 1: for sure experiments and study how canines make sense of 83 00:05:03,196 --> 00:05:04,956 Speaker 1: the world. Do you want to search in the box? 84 00:05:05,596 --> 00:05:11,156 Speaker 1: Are you ready to search? For? You did such a 85 00:05:11,196 --> 00:05:14,716 Speaker 1: good job. If you live near Yale campus, you should 86 00:05:14,716 --> 00:05:17,116 Speaker 1: sign your dog up for a visit. It's fun and 87 00:05:17,196 --> 00:05:19,236 Speaker 1: your pop will even get a doggy version of an 88 00:05:19,236 --> 00:05:22,316 Speaker 1: Ivy League diploma for their efforts. Bailey, do you want 89 00:05:22,316 --> 00:05:26,396 Speaker 1: to see your degree? Do you want to see your degree? Oh? Yes, 90 00:05:26,436 --> 00:05:33,556 Speaker 1: you're so proud. Good job, You're so proud. Yes. My 91 00:05:33,636 --> 00:05:35,916 Speaker 1: kenine research has taught me in my students a ton 92 00:05:35,956 --> 00:05:38,596 Speaker 1: about what dogs know about the world and the unique 93 00:05:38,596 --> 00:05:40,956 Speaker 1: way that they're able to learn from their human companions. 94 00:05:41,716 --> 00:05:44,916 Speaker 1: But anecdotally, running the center has also taught me a 95 00:05:44,956 --> 00:05:48,636 Speaker 1: lot about the connection between dogs and happiness. The dog 96 00:05:48,716 --> 00:05:50,956 Speaker 1: Lab is one of the most popular spots on campus 97 00:05:50,956 --> 00:05:54,196 Speaker 1: for students to do research, mostly because they really love 98 00:05:54,276 --> 00:05:57,476 Speaker 1: hanging out with the test subjects. I know theo so weird. 99 00:05:57,676 --> 00:06:06,516 Speaker 1: It's so weird, microhod. My student assistants always walk into 100 00:06:06,556 --> 00:06:09,156 Speaker 1: the lab seeming a bit frazzled and stressed about the 101 00:06:09,276 --> 00:06:12,676 Speaker 1: usual challenges of college life, but they leave their canine 102 00:06:12,716 --> 00:06:17,036 Speaker 1: shifts in a completely different emotional space. Watching these transformations 103 00:06:17,076 --> 00:06:20,196 Speaker 1: got me curious, why is it that dogs and other 104 00:06:20,196 --> 00:06:26,076 Speaker 1: companion animals affect us so much? Sadly, the specifics on 105 00:06:26,116 --> 00:06:28,356 Speaker 1: how we built such a strong bond with dogs is 106 00:06:28,396 --> 00:06:32,236 Speaker 1: pretty much lost to time. Many canine researchers hypothesize that 107 00:06:32,356 --> 00:06:35,396 Speaker 1: it all started tens of thousands of years ago, when 108 00:06:35,396 --> 00:06:39,036 Speaker 1: a group of relatively chill wolves began following our ancestors around, 109 00:06:39,516 --> 00:06:42,596 Speaker 1: eating their trash, an inching closer and closer to their campfires. 110 00:06:43,196 --> 00:06:46,276 Speaker 1: Those ancient canaids were the first step on the evolutionary 111 00:06:46,276 --> 00:06:49,716 Speaker 1: path to the cuddly, domesticated dogs we know today. But 112 00:06:49,796 --> 00:06:52,916 Speaker 1: our relationship with these ancient pooches was very different from 113 00:06:52,916 --> 00:06:55,476 Speaker 1: the one we have with our modern pets. I had 114 00:06:55,516 --> 00:06:57,636 Speaker 1: some sort of function in terms of helping as hunt 115 00:06:57,796 --> 00:07:00,556 Speaker 1: or gardening or protecting us in some way. This is 116 00:07:00,636 --> 00:07:04,196 Speaker 1: Carrie Westgarth, a senior lecturer at the University of Liverpool, 117 00:07:04,356 --> 00:07:08,036 Speaker 1: But as times gone on, they've become much more integrated 118 00:07:08,236 --> 00:07:12,516 Speaker 1: into least physically into our family homes rather than living outside, 119 00:07:12,516 --> 00:07:15,636 Speaker 1: but I also think much more emotionally into our family 120 00:07:15,676 --> 00:07:18,356 Speaker 1: lives as well. Carry As an expert on the emerging 121 00:07:18,396 --> 00:07:21,756 Speaker 1: academic field of human animal interaction, she's the author of 122 00:07:21,796 --> 00:07:24,436 Speaker 1: a new book called The Happy Dog Owner, Finding Health 123 00:07:24,436 --> 00:07:26,876 Speaker 1: and Happiness with the Help of Your Dog. If you 124 00:07:26,916 --> 00:07:29,436 Speaker 1: have a dog yourself, you probably have some very strong 125 00:07:29,476 --> 00:07:32,676 Speaker 1: intuitions about the effect that that creature has on your life. Generally, 126 00:07:33,236 --> 00:07:37,156 Speaker 1: but surprisingly relatively little scientific research had explored this question, 127 00:07:37,636 --> 00:07:40,556 Speaker 1: at least not until the early nineteen eighties. There was 128 00:07:40,596 --> 00:07:44,076 Speaker 1: a particular study by Erica Friedman where she looked at 129 00:07:44,156 --> 00:07:46,516 Speaker 1: people who'd had a heart attack and then looked at 130 00:07:46,556 --> 00:07:49,556 Speaker 1: their survival one year on, and after adjusting for a 131 00:07:49,596 --> 00:07:53,116 Speaker 1: few other different factors about these people, she noticed that 132 00:07:53,316 --> 00:07:55,956 Speaker 1: the people that own pets were much more likely to 133 00:07:56,036 --> 00:08:00,516 Speaker 1: have survived. The results were striking. Pet owners were four 134 00:08:00,556 --> 00:08:03,236 Speaker 1: times more likely to survive after a heart attack than 135 00:08:03,316 --> 00:08:06,116 Speaker 1: non pet owners, But there were a few problems with 136 00:08:06,196 --> 00:08:10,476 Speaker 1: Friedman's initial study. First, the samples was pretty small, only 137 00:08:10,556 --> 00:08:13,956 Speaker 1: ninety or so patients were examined, and second, it was 138 00:08:13,996 --> 00:08:17,876 Speaker 1: only a correlational study. To truly establish that pets actually 139 00:08:17,956 --> 00:08:20,996 Speaker 1: cause a psychological benefit, you need to do an experiment, 140 00:08:21,676 --> 00:08:23,956 Speaker 1: and that's just what a different group of researchers did 141 00:08:24,036 --> 00:08:26,916 Speaker 1: in the late nineteen eighties. They measured blood pressure and 142 00:08:26,996 --> 00:08:29,316 Speaker 1: heart rate and a group of college students while they 143 00:08:29,316 --> 00:08:31,796 Speaker 1: were petting a dog, talking to a dog, talking to 144 00:08:31,876 --> 00:08:35,796 Speaker 1: a human, or just relaxing without a dog present. The 145 00:08:35,876 --> 00:08:38,676 Speaker 1: researchers found that students assigned to stroke the dog had 146 00:08:38,716 --> 00:08:42,076 Speaker 1: the lowest readings. Interacting with a dog, it seemed, had 147 00:08:42,116 --> 00:08:46,116 Speaker 1: a causal effect on people's cardiac stress. The researchers famously 148 00:08:46,196 --> 00:08:49,396 Speaker 1: christened this pattern the pet effect. But was this so 149 00:08:49,596 --> 00:08:52,636 Speaker 1: called pet effect just about the petting or about the pet? 150 00:08:53,116 --> 00:08:55,516 Speaker 1: Could the mere presence of a dog also reduce our 151 00:08:55,556 --> 00:08:59,876 Speaker 1: heart rate and our psychological distress? Researcher Karen Allen at 152 00:08:59,876 --> 00:09:03,236 Speaker 1: the University of Buffalo devised another experiment to find out. 153 00:09:03,396 --> 00:09:05,316 Speaker 1: It's a really clever study, and it's one of those 154 00:09:05,356 --> 00:09:07,876 Speaker 1: ones where as soon as I thought, why didn't I 155 00:09:07,876 --> 00:09:11,596 Speaker 1: think of this such a cool idea, Alan and her 156 00:09:11,596 --> 00:09:14,116 Speaker 1: colleagues had a group of subjects undergo different kinds of 157 00:09:14,116 --> 00:09:16,676 Speaker 1: stressful events they either had to do a set of 158 00:09:16,716 --> 00:09:20,116 Speaker 1: hard math problems or plunge their hands into super cold water, 159 00:09:20,956 --> 00:09:23,756 Speaker 1: but the subjects were randomly assigned to endure these events 160 00:09:23,916 --> 00:09:27,396 Speaker 1: with different audiences. They either had to experience the stressful 161 00:09:27,396 --> 00:09:31,236 Speaker 1: situation alone with their spouse present, with their pet present, 162 00:09:31,836 --> 00:09:34,756 Speaker 1: or with both their pet and their spouse present. The 163 00:09:34,836 --> 00:09:37,916 Speaker 1: researchers then tested which group of subjects seemed least affected 164 00:09:37,956 --> 00:09:40,996 Speaker 1: by the stress, which one completed the math test quickest 165 00:09:41,036 --> 00:09:43,956 Speaker 1: with the fewest mistakes, and which one's heart rate recovered 166 00:09:43,996 --> 00:09:47,316 Speaker 1: most quickly once the stressful tests were over. The answer 167 00:09:47,956 --> 00:09:50,676 Speaker 1: it was the group of subjects with just their pets. 168 00:09:51,596 --> 00:09:54,716 Speaker 1: When you're alone, you're fairly stressed during these tests. When 169 00:09:54,756 --> 00:09:57,556 Speaker 1: you're with your spouse you're even more stressed. But when 170 00:09:57,596 --> 00:10:01,356 Speaker 1: you're with your pets, you're much less stressed than you 171 00:10:01,396 --> 00:10:04,476 Speaker 1: were either with your spouse or alone. It was a 172 00:10:04,476 --> 00:10:08,276 Speaker 1: pretty incredible result. The researchers who published these studies were 173 00:10:08,316 --> 00:10:11,876 Speaker 1: reasonably carefu interpreting their results. They only went so far 174 00:10:11,916 --> 00:10:14,836 Speaker 1: as to conclude that pet owners clearly perceive their pets 175 00:10:14,876 --> 00:10:17,236 Speaker 1: to be a good source of support. But this level 176 00:10:17,236 --> 00:10:19,996 Speaker 1: of caution was lost on the journalists who covered this 177 00:10:20,076 --> 00:10:23,356 Speaker 1: study and others like it. They're over the top. Headlines 178 00:10:23,596 --> 00:10:27,036 Speaker 1: still make Carrie cringe. Your dog will make you live longer, 179 00:10:27,316 --> 00:10:30,956 Speaker 1: Your dog will solve your depression. Pet owners are happier 180 00:10:30,996 --> 00:10:34,756 Speaker 1: and healthier these sorts of headlines. They are only half 181 00:10:34,756 --> 00:10:38,756 Speaker 1: of the story. Unfortunately, it doesn't always quite work out 182 00:10:38,796 --> 00:10:41,636 Speaker 1: as the headlines make you think. And this worries me 183 00:10:41,756 --> 00:10:44,356 Speaker 1: because if people are going to assume that if they 184 00:10:44,436 --> 00:10:47,076 Speaker 1: get a dog, it's going to be absolutely fantastic and 185 00:10:47,116 --> 00:10:49,076 Speaker 1: it's going to solve all their problems, they're going to 186 00:10:49,156 --> 00:10:52,436 Speaker 1: be in for a bit of a rocky ride. Even 187 00:10:52,436 --> 00:10:56,036 Speaker 1: though she's a human animal interaction expert, an experienced dog owner, 188 00:10:56,196 --> 00:10:59,316 Speaker 1: and a professional trainer, Carrie is still no stranger to 189 00:10:59,356 --> 00:11:01,876 Speaker 1: the rocky personal ride then a new pet can, cause 190 00:11:02,356 --> 00:11:05,516 Speaker 1: she experienced it firsthand when Roxy, a new pug puppy, 191 00:11:05,716 --> 00:11:08,676 Speaker 1: became part of her family. Though small in size, the 192 00:11:08,716 --> 00:11:13,556 Speaker 1: impact Roxy had on Carrie's home was massive. It's complete 193 00:11:13,676 --> 00:11:17,196 Speaker 1: upheaval to your life and I pretty much had an 194 00:11:17,196 --> 00:11:21,276 Speaker 1: emotional breakdown. This thing is crying, it is biting, it 195 00:11:21,356 --> 00:11:25,076 Speaker 1: is pooping, it is peddling. Peddling is a quaint British 196 00:11:25,116 --> 00:11:29,276 Speaker 1: way of describing Roxy's rather unquaint habit of urinating all 197 00:11:29,276 --> 00:11:32,236 Speaker 1: over Carrie's house. The chaos took a negative toll on 198 00:11:32,316 --> 00:11:35,276 Speaker 1: Carrie's while being and even began threatening the health of 199 00:11:35,276 --> 00:11:38,516 Speaker 1: her human relationships. And at one point I said to 200 00:11:38,596 --> 00:11:40,556 Speaker 1: my husband, I'm just going to have to send her back. 201 00:11:40,636 --> 00:11:42,956 Speaker 1: I can't deal with this, just I felt so sick 202 00:11:42,996 --> 00:11:44,916 Speaker 1: all the time. I was so stressed out about it, 203 00:11:44,956 --> 00:11:46,956 Speaker 1: And obviously he was very upset, and he said he'd 204 00:11:46,956 --> 00:11:49,356 Speaker 1: never forgive me of a center back. In the end, 205 00:11:49,716 --> 00:11:52,636 Speaker 1: Carrie did not, in fact send Roxy back. You look 206 00:11:52,676 --> 00:11:56,156 Speaker 1: pretty cuddled up with Roxy right now. I'll say she's 207 00:11:56,236 --> 00:12:00,956 Speaker 1: my baby. It's definitely my baby. But Carrie's early experience 208 00:12:00,996 --> 00:12:03,796 Speaker 1: with Roxy caused her to question what she and many 209 00:12:03,836 --> 00:12:07,636 Speaker 1: researchers initially thought about man's Best friend. The dogs are 210 00:12:07,636 --> 00:12:11,476 Speaker 1: some magic bullet who universally have a psychological benefit for 211 00:12:11,516 --> 00:12:16,076 Speaker 1: their owners. Everybody who studies this probably generally really likes 212 00:12:16,436 --> 00:12:19,916 Speaker 1: animals and wants to show a positive effect because they 213 00:12:19,956 --> 00:12:22,476 Speaker 1: believe that there is a positive effect of pets in 214 00:12:22,476 --> 00:12:26,676 Speaker 1: our lives. Actually, what we find is that a number 215 00:12:26,676 --> 00:12:30,236 Speaker 1: of studies show either no difference between people our own pets, 216 00:12:30,236 --> 00:12:32,996 Speaker 1: and don't own pets, or they show that the dog owners, 217 00:12:32,996 --> 00:12:37,476 Speaker 1: for example, have worse levels of depression. As Carrie looked 218 00:12:37,476 --> 00:12:40,316 Speaker 1: into the scientific results more and more, she started to 219 00:12:40,316 --> 00:12:43,196 Speaker 1: figure out a solution for why the existing data don't 220 00:12:43,236 --> 00:12:45,956 Speaker 1: match our lay intuition the dog should be a magic 221 00:12:45,996 --> 00:12:49,636 Speaker 1: bullet for happiness. The problem, she argues, is that most 222 00:12:49,636 --> 00:12:52,076 Speaker 1: of the studies use a pretty black and white benchmark 223 00:12:52,396 --> 00:12:55,036 Speaker 1: to work out the benefits of dog ownership, one that 224 00:12:55,076 --> 00:12:58,516 Speaker 1: amounts pretty much to dog or no dog, like do 225 00:12:58,516 --> 00:13:01,516 Speaker 1: you own a dog or not own a dog? Or 226 00:13:01,756 --> 00:13:05,076 Speaker 1: is a dog present or is no dog present? Black 227 00:13:05,076 --> 00:13:07,316 Speaker 1: and white comparisons like these miss a lot of the 228 00:13:07,356 --> 00:13:11,716 Speaker 1: specific nuances that matter. Carrie has found that surprisingly few 229 00:13:11,716 --> 00:13:14,916 Speaker 1: studies have explored the actual relationship people have with the 230 00:13:14,956 --> 00:13:18,476 Speaker 1: pooch they own. Simple things like is your dog well behaved? 231 00:13:18,876 --> 00:13:21,356 Speaker 1: How much time do you spend together? What do you 232 00:13:21,396 --> 00:13:24,436 Speaker 1: do when you're hanging out? These kinds of factors tend 233 00:13:24,476 --> 00:13:27,076 Speaker 1: not to be taken into account, even though they probably 234 00:13:27,116 --> 00:13:29,276 Speaker 1: matter a lot in terms of the joy you're getting 235 00:13:29,276 --> 00:13:33,796 Speaker 1: from your dog. When we get back from the break, 236 00:13:34,196 --> 00:13:37,196 Speaker 1: we'll hear more about what Carrie discovered When factors like 237 00:13:37,276 --> 00:13:41,356 Speaker 1: these were added to the empirical mix. The Happiness Lab 238 00:13:41,396 --> 00:13:57,156 Speaker 1: will be right back. When I was recovering from cancer, 239 00:13:57,676 --> 00:14:01,716 Speaker 1: walking from the couch to the dishwasher, I was completely 240 00:14:01,796 --> 00:14:05,196 Speaker 1: winded and that was about seven steps, and by the 241 00:14:05,196 --> 00:14:07,876 Speaker 1: time I got to the dishwasher, I was dizzy and 242 00:14:07,996 --> 00:14:11,316 Speaker 1: lightheaded and thought, Nope, I can't do this, so I 243 00:14:11,316 --> 00:14:14,236 Speaker 1: had to go back to the couch. Laurette nichols relationship 244 00:14:14,316 --> 00:14:16,396 Speaker 1: with her dog Georgia is a great example of the 245 00:14:16,396 --> 00:14:20,676 Speaker 1: potential positive benefits that human animal interaction can provide. There's 246 00:14:20,716 --> 00:14:25,276 Speaker 1: this black cancer cloud that was really really large, and 247 00:14:25,636 --> 00:14:31,436 Speaker 1: Georgia came in and really helped me push through. It 248 00:14:31,476 --> 00:14:33,916 Speaker 1: may seem that the huge happiness bump Laurette got from 249 00:14:33,916 --> 00:14:37,676 Speaker 1: Georgia and their incredible chemistry together just happened instantly, almost 250 00:14:37,756 --> 00:14:39,916 Speaker 1: as if by magic. But as I heard more of 251 00:14:39,916 --> 00:14:42,516 Speaker 1: their story, I kept thinking back to what I learned 252 00:14:42,556 --> 00:14:45,636 Speaker 1: from chatting with research or Carrie Westgarth. It's not just 253 00:14:45,756 --> 00:14:48,756 Speaker 1: having a companion animal that improves your well being, it's 254 00:14:48,796 --> 00:14:51,916 Speaker 1: the specific ways that you interact with that animal. As 255 00:14:51,996 --> 00:14:54,556 Speaker 1: Laurette talked more about her day to day life with Georgia, 256 00:14:54,636 --> 00:14:57,156 Speaker 1: I realized that the duo seems to naturally engage in 257 00:14:57,276 --> 00:15:00,356 Speaker 1: exactly the behavior as Carrie has found, are fundamental for 258 00:15:00,396 --> 00:15:03,996 Speaker 1: the happiness boosting benefits of dog ownership. The first of 259 00:15:03,996 --> 00:15:07,316 Speaker 1: these behaviors one that's honestly so simple it's easy to 260 00:15:07,356 --> 00:15:10,916 Speaker 1: miss how important it is is exercise. There's lots of 261 00:15:10,916 --> 00:15:14,596 Speaker 1: research showing that exercise is great for our happiness. Studies 262 00:15:14,596 --> 00:15:17,236 Speaker 1: show that a relatively short burst of cardio can reduce 263 00:15:17,316 --> 00:15:21,276 Speaker 1: negative feelings like anxiety, tension, and depression. And whether we 264 00:15:21,316 --> 00:15:23,676 Speaker 1: like it or not, on that rainy Sunday morning, our 265 00:15:23,716 --> 00:15:26,636 Speaker 1: pups often forced us to get moving. They demand that 266 00:15:26,636 --> 00:15:28,756 Speaker 1: we get off the couch at least for a quick stroll, 267 00:15:29,196 --> 00:15:32,396 Speaker 1: even when that feels like a struggle. Laurette saw this 268 00:15:32,476 --> 00:15:35,836 Speaker 1: benefit of dog ownership firsthand. She had been an active 269 00:15:35,836 --> 00:15:38,796 Speaker 1: person and an avid runner before she got cancer, but 270 00:15:38,876 --> 00:15:41,916 Speaker 1: when her extensive course of keimo floored her, attending to 271 00:15:41,956 --> 00:15:44,596 Speaker 1: Georgia's needs was the only way Laurette could get herself 272 00:15:44,596 --> 00:15:48,516 Speaker 1: safely moving again. She obviously needed to go out, and 273 00:15:48,756 --> 00:15:52,116 Speaker 1: she needed walks, and so just putting her out in 274 00:15:52,156 --> 00:15:54,276 Speaker 1: the backyard so she could go to the bathroom was 275 00:15:54,396 --> 00:15:57,276 Speaker 1: never going to work for her, so I was able 276 00:15:57,316 --> 00:16:02,716 Speaker 1: to increase my mileage safely for me and what my 277 00:16:03,076 --> 00:16:06,716 Speaker 1: body allowed. And Laurette's not alone here. Carrie has seen 278 00:16:06,756 --> 00:16:08,756 Speaker 1: this pattern over and over again and her work on 279 00:16:08,836 --> 00:16:11,796 Speaker 1: human dog interaction, dogs tend to push us past our 280 00:16:11,876 --> 00:16:15,996 Speaker 1: usual athletic threshold. She calls it exercise by stealth. All 281 00:16:15,996 --> 00:16:18,636 Speaker 1: those chill evening walks add up to improve not just 282 00:16:18,676 --> 00:16:21,796 Speaker 1: our physical health, but our mental health too. My research 283 00:16:21,996 --> 00:16:25,556 Speaker 1: participants tell me how stress relieving that is to go out, 284 00:16:25,676 --> 00:16:28,556 Speaker 1: especially that at the end of the day walk after 285 00:16:28,716 --> 00:16:32,196 Speaker 1: work has finished, getting your mind free of all the 286 00:16:32,236 --> 00:16:35,876 Speaker 1: stress and worries, blowing away the day walk that you 287 00:16:35,956 --> 00:16:38,916 Speaker 1: do after work in particular, is what people say is 288 00:16:39,156 --> 00:16:42,916 Speaker 1: is really stress relieving and helpful for the well being. 289 00:16:43,436 --> 00:16:46,316 Speaker 1: Even non dog owners probably realize that it's good to 290 00:16:46,316 --> 00:16:49,276 Speaker 1: get some exercise in when you're feeling stressed. But even 291 00:16:49,316 --> 00:16:51,516 Speaker 1: when we know the benefits, a nightly walk can be 292 00:16:51,556 --> 00:16:54,436 Speaker 1: a hard habit to keep up with, especially on busy nights. 293 00:16:54,996 --> 00:16:56,796 Speaker 1: But you don't really have a choice when your pooch 294 00:16:56,916 --> 00:16:59,676 Speaker 1: is staring at his leash, excited to get going. And 295 00:16:59,716 --> 00:17:02,596 Speaker 1: that's why so many studies fine that on average, dog 296 00:17:02,596 --> 00:17:06,436 Speaker 1: owners get more exercise. In one UK study, Carrie found 297 00:17:06,436 --> 00:17:08,836 Speaker 1: that dog owners were four times more likely than non 298 00:17:08,876 --> 00:17:11,596 Speaker 1: owner to meet the health guideline of getting one hundred 299 00:17:11,596 --> 00:17:14,276 Speaker 1: and fifty minutes of exercise in a week. People who 300 00:17:14,276 --> 00:17:16,676 Speaker 1: don't have a dog just don't seem to move as much. 301 00:17:17,436 --> 00:17:20,316 Speaker 1: Carrie had this unfortunate pattern hit close to home when 302 00:17:20,316 --> 00:17:24,396 Speaker 1: her father's beloved dog and walking companion passed away. So 303 00:17:24,636 --> 00:17:27,076 Speaker 1: I text him and said, you know, if you're thinking 304 00:17:27,116 --> 00:17:31,276 Speaker 1: about getting another dog yet, and he replied, not yet. 305 00:17:31,396 --> 00:17:34,316 Speaker 1: I'm not ready. But in the meantime, there's no reason 306 00:17:34,356 --> 00:17:36,516 Speaker 1: to go for a walk. And my dad lives in 307 00:17:36,556 --> 00:17:40,036 Speaker 1: the middle of beautiful countryside with all the reasons in 308 00:17:40,036 --> 00:17:42,196 Speaker 1: the world. He's retired, it's all the reasons in the 309 00:17:42,236 --> 00:17:44,716 Speaker 1: world to go for a walk, but not having that 310 00:17:44,796 --> 00:17:47,156 Speaker 1: dog there just made it really hard for him to 311 00:17:47,396 --> 00:17:49,796 Speaker 1: want to be motivated to literally walk out of his 312 00:17:49,876 --> 00:17:53,556 Speaker 1: door around his beautiful countryside. But even though dogs make 313 00:17:53,596 --> 00:17:55,676 Speaker 1: it easier to get the mental health benefits that come 314 00:17:55,716 --> 00:17:59,356 Speaker 1: from exercise, Carrie has shown that this only works if 315 00:17:59,436 --> 00:18:02,196 Speaker 1: you actually take a walk with your dog, and sadly, 316 00:18:02,356 --> 00:18:05,716 Speaker 1: many dog owners don't always do this, which explains the 317 00:18:05,756 --> 00:18:08,476 Speaker 1: fact that merely owning a dog isn't always enough for 318 00:18:08,516 --> 00:18:11,876 Speaker 1: getting the angial health benefits they provide. But Carrie has 319 00:18:11,876 --> 00:18:13,596 Speaker 1: found that on the days when you do manage to 320 00:18:13,596 --> 00:18:15,956 Speaker 1: make it out for a walk, you often get more 321 00:18:15,996 --> 00:18:19,116 Speaker 1: pleasure simply by having your dog at your side. There's 322 00:18:19,196 --> 00:18:22,356 Speaker 1: something different with going for a walk with a dog 323 00:18:22,396 --> 00:18:25,396 Speaker 1: to going for a walk without a dog that can 324 00:18:25,436 --> 00:18:28,636 Speaker 1: make it extra special. The special sauce that dogs bring 325 00:18:28,676 --> 00:18:31,316 Speaker 1: to our walks together is actually the second factor that 326 00:18:31,356 --> 00:18:35,316 Speaker 1: allows our pets to boost our well being. Mindfulness, that 327 00:18:35,436 --> 00:18:38,316 Speaker 1: ability to be in the present moment, to savor and 328 00:18:38,436 --> 00:18:40,876 Speaker 1: enjoy the here and now. If you've listen to other 329 00:18:40,916 --> 00:18:43,556 Speaker 1: episodes of the Happiness Lab, you know that lots of 330 00:18:43,596 --> 00:18:46,236 Speaker 1: scientific work shows that being present is a great way 331 00:18:46,276 --> 00:18:48,876 Speaker 1: to boost your happiness. There are lots of ways to 332 00:18:48,916 --> 00:18:52,196 Speaker 1: experience more mindfulness, but having a happy pet around makes 333 00:18:52,236 --> 00:18:54,876 Speaker 1: that easier because our pups are pretty much the most 334 00:18:54,876 --> 00:18:58,196 Speaker 1: mindful creatures around. A stick, a puddle, a patch of grass, 335 00:18:58,236 --> 00:19:00,676 Speaker 1: a tiny cookie crumb dropped on the floor, they're all 336 00:19:00,716 --> 00:19:04,716 Speaker 1: worthy of intense interest, attention, and curiosity. Carrie has found 337 00:19:04,716 --> 00:19:07,396 Speaker 1: that we can allow our dogs excitement to bring us 338 00:19:07,436 --> 00:19:09,756 Speaker 1: back to the here and now too. Dogs are just 339 00:19:09,956 --> 00:19:13,436 Speaker 1: great at doing this because you can be absorbed in 340 00:19:13,516 --> 00:19:16,276 Speaker 1: your phone or thinking about a problem that you've got 341 00:19:16,276 --> 00:19:19,836 Speaker 1: to solve, and then your dog shoves its head in 342 00:19:19,916 --> 00:19:23,076 Speaker 1: your lap, shoves your phone out the way, and shoves 343 00:19:23,076 --> 00:19:25,996 Speaker 1: their face off in your face, and you can do 344 00:19:26,076 --> 00:19:29,876 Speaker 1: nothing but respond to that. And when you stroke, there 345 00:19:30,196 --> 00:19:33,516 Speaker 1: is those sensations. My dog has have very velvety ears 346 00:19:33,636 --> 00:19:36,556 Speaker 1: one of my dogs that sort of tacks out that sensation. 347 00:19:36,756 --> 00:19:39,676 Speaker 1: It brings you really into the present moment, which is 348 00:19:39,676 --> 00:19:42,356 Speaker 1: what I love about dogs. But we only get the 349 00:19:42,396 --> 00:19:45,996 Speaker 1: mindfulness benefit dogs provide if we actually allow ourselves to 350 00:19:46,036 --> 00:19:48,436 Speaker 1: pay attention. If you keep your face buried in your 351 00:19:48,436 --> 00:19:51,116 Speaker 1: smartphone when your dog is playing fetch, or you spend 352 00:19:51,116 --> 00:19:54,516 Speaker 1: your walk ruminating about some upcoming meeting, you simply won't 353 00:19:54,516 --> 00:19:57,316 Speaker 1: get the happiness boost that mindfulness can provide. But if 354 00:19:57,356 --> 00:19:59,916 Speaker 1: we're willing to put in some work, dogs can help 355 00:19:59,996 --> 00:20:03,236 Speaker 1: us to help ourselves even if we're having a particularly 356 00:20:03,276 --> 00:20:06,356 Speaker 1: tough time. You imagine, if you were suffering from depression 357 00:20:06,436 --> 00:20:08,116 Speaker 1: and you're really stopping to get out of bed in 358 00:20:08,116 --> 00:20:11,556 Speaker 1: the morning, you've got that animal relying on you probably 359 00:20:11,636 --> 00:20:14,116 Speaker 1: jumping on your face trying to get you out of bed. 360 00:20:14,356 --> 00:20:16,996 Speaker 1: They weren't feeding, they weren't walking, and you can get 361 00:20:16,996 --> 00:20:20,076 Speaker 1: that sense of mastery and purpose that I think is 362 00:20:20,196 --> 00:20:24,076 Speaker 1: really important for that fulfillment that is so important for 363 00:20:24,116 --> 00:20:27,316 Speaker 1: our well being. I go into things like dog training classes, 364 00:20:27,596 --> 00:20:30,276 Speaker 1: you can feel like you're really achieving something with your dog, 365 00:20:30,636 --> 00:20:32,996 Speaker 1: and that can really help with your self esteem. And 366 00:20:33,076 --> 00:20:35,436 Speaker 1: this gets to a third behavior that Carrie has found 367 00:20:35,476 --> 00:20:37,716 Speaker 1: is necessary to engage in if you want all the 368 00:20:37,756 --> 00:20:42,316 Speaker 1: benefits that dog ownership can offer. Training. Carrie's book goes 369 00:20:42,316 --> 00:20:44,956 Speaker 1: through case after case in which an untrained pup can 370 00:20:44,996 --> 00:20:47,916 Speaker 1: be a recipe for misery. This is yet another spot 371 00:20:47,916 --> 00:20:51,316 Speaker 1: where Lorette and her pup, Georgia, are great examples. Laurette 372 00:20:51,356 --> 00:20:55,196 Speaker 1: certainly didn't skimp on Georgie's training or her socialization. She 373 00:20:55,316 --> 00:20:58,596 Speaker 1: really stretched my ability as well because she made me 374 00:20:58,676 --> 00:21:03,756 Speaker 1: realize how much again mental stimulation that she needed. You know, 375 00:21:03,796 --> 00:21:06,876 Speaker 1: she was already getting a lot of love, great food, exercise, 376 00:21:07,196 --> 00:21:09,916 Speaker 1: but we needed to work on the high fives, and 377 00:21:09,996 --> 00:21:12,556 Speaker 1: we needed to work on the sits and the downs, 378 00:21:13,116 --> 00:21:17,036 Speaker 1: but also take her out into public and that's where 379 00:21:17,396 --> 00:21:21,956 Speaker 1: she really seemed to thrive. Georgie's love of people, coupled 380 00:21:21,956 --> 00:21:24,396 Speaker 1: with the great training she got from Lorette, meant that 381 00:21:24,476 --> 00:21:27,396 Speaker 1: she was naturally drawn to the fourth behavior that Carrie 382 00:21:27,396 --> 00:21:30,556 Speaker 1: has found is necessary for getting the biggest positive benefit 383 00:21:30,556 --> 00:21:34,636 Speaker 1: we can from dog ownership, social connection. We use our 384 00:21:34,676 --> 00:21:38,236 Speaker 1: pups to lead us into new forms of human human interaction. 385 00:21:38,796 --> 00:21:41,116 Speaker 1: Dogs are a social lubucant in that they're a bit 386 00:21:41,116 --> 00:21:44,036 Speaker 1: of an icebreaker. Oh what a lovely dog you've got there? 387 00:21:44,276 --> 00:21:46,756 Speaker 1: Can I stroke it? What a cute dog? Where to 388 00:21:46,796 --> 00:21:48,836 Speaker 1: get it from? What? Breedes it? I get us that 389 00:21:48,876 --> 00:21:51,516 Speaker 1: with my dogs all the time. Research shows that the 390 00:21:51,556 --> 00:21:54,156 Speaker 1: simple act of striking up a conversation with a stranger 391 00:21:54,396 --> 00:21:56,916 Speaker 1: is a great way to philip our leaky happiness tires. 392 00:21:57,276 --> 00:22:00,156 Speaker 1: As one of my former guests, psychologist Nick Eppley, once 393 00:22:00,196 --> 00:22:02,916 Speaker 1: put it, dogs naturally cause us to chat, smile, and 394 00:22:02,956 --> 00:22:05,836 Speaker 1: interact more with the people we run into the importance 395 00:22:05,836 --> 00:22:09,076 Speaker 1: of this final beneficial behavior. Using your pooch to increase 396 00:22:09,316 --> 00:22:11,796 Speaker 1: your social connection is the big reason I wanted to 397 00:22:11,796 --> 00:22:14,916 Speaker 1: speak to Lorette for this episode. You see, Lorette found 398 00:22:14,916 --> 00:22:17,996 Speaker 1: a way to turn her outings with Georgia into occasions 399 00:22:18,036 --> 00:22:21,636 Speaker 1: that brought her entire local community together. It all started 400 00:22:21,756 --> 00:22:24,956 Speaker 1: before Laurette got sick, when she had a somewhat crazy 401 00:22:25,036 --> 00:22:28,396 Speaker 1: idea Once upon a time, I saw a motorcycle rider 402 00:22:28,596 --> 00:22:32,316 Speaker 1: in a sidecar with a dog. At that moment, I thought, 403 00:22:32,756 --> 00:22:37,516 Speaker 1: that's exactly what I want to do. That dream came 404 00:22:37,556 --> 00:22:40,956 Speaker 1: true years later on Lorette's fortieth birthday when she bought 405 00:22:40,956 --> 00:22:44,196 Speaker 1: herself a bike with a sidecar. It was a big, noisy, 406 00:22:44,316 --> 00:22:46,956 Speaker 1: vintage looking thing that she instantly fell in love with. 407 00:22:47,676 --> 00:22:50,676 Speaker 1: But would Georgia take to this weird new ride. Would 408 00:22:50,676 --> 00:22:53,876 Speaker 1: she be okay dawning a pair of dog goggles or 409 00:22:54,636 --> 00:22:58,436 Speaker 1: I guess doggles. She just jumped straight into the bike. 410 00:22:58,636 --> 00:23:01,516 Speaker 1: I didn't ask her, I didn't pat the seat. I 411 00:23:01,556 --> 00:23:04,316 Speaker 1: didn't want to push it on her because I thought 412 00:23:04,316 --> 00:23:07,556 Speaker 1: if I scare her then she won't ride. But she 413 00:23:07,756 --> 00:23:11,516 Speaker 1: just knew, she yes, knew that this was going to 414 00:23:11,596 --> 00:23:13,956 Speaker 1: be something so special that she and I got to 415 00:23:13,996 --> 00:23:18,116 Speaker 1: do together. And I need a word that's bigger than 416 00:23:18,196 --> 00:23:22,796 Speaker 1: fun because and I'll be totally honest, I know when 417 00:23:23,516 --> 00:23:28,356 Speaker 1: my little town it's called oldtown, is the busiest, so 418 00:23:28,716 --> 00:23:32,156 Speaker 1: I will go cruise for attention at the high points 419 00:23:32,196 --> 00:23:35,116 Speaker 1: of the day, because it's just so much fun and 420 00:23:35,316 --> 00:23:39,876 Speaker 1: it kind of snaps people out of their own little bubble. 421 00:23:40,116 --> 00:23:45,196 Speaker 1: We'll cruise into oldtown at brunchtime on Sunday. Everyone sees 422 00:23:45,276 --> 00:23:48,476 Speaker 1: and kind of hears the bike because it sounds totally different. 423 00:23:48,636 --> 00:23:50,956 Speaker 1: And then all of a sudden, I can see it 424 00:23:50,996 --> 00:23:53,956 Speaker 1: on their face when they realize there's a dog with 425 00:23:54,116 --> 00:23:58,196 Speaker 1: doggles and a red handkerchief just enjoying her best life, 426 00:23:58,396 --> 00:24:03,236 Speaker 1: and their face lights up. They grab their phones, you know, 427 00:24:03,316 --> 00:24:06,236 Speaker 1: and I'll wave to everybody and talk to them and say, 428 00:24:06,236 --> 00:24:10,396 Speaker 1: good morning, how are you. This is Georgia, and it's 429 00:24:10,476 --> 00:24:13,556 Speaker 1: just yeah. You can see the parents tap the kids 430 00:24:13,556 --> 00:24:17,556 Speaker 1: and point the kid's eyes in the directions of Georgia, 431 00:24:17,636 --> 00:24:23,476 Speaker 1: and I don't know, it's so difficult to talk about 432 00:24:23,596 --> 00:24:28,596 Speaker 1: the reaction because it's so much joy from other people 433 00:24:29,396 --> 00:24:34,996 Speaker 1: realizing that this motorcyclist and her dog are just living 434 00:24:35,036 --> 00:24:38,756 Speaker 1: their best life together. And when Laurette and Georgia are 435 00:24:38,796 --> 00:24:41,116 Speaker 1: done making friends with all the locals on main Street, 436 00:24:41,636 --> 00:24:44,396 Speaker 1: they head off to the open road together. And that's 437 00:24:44,396 --> 00:24:46,996 Speaker 1: where Laurette was able to achieve the final benefit. We 438 00:24:46,996 --> 00:24:50,916 Speaker 1: can get from our dogs a sense of purpose before 439 00:24:50,916 --> 00:24:54,396 Speaker 1: her cancer cloud took over. Lorette was incredibly driven, someone 440 00:24:54,396 --> 00:24:57,396 Speaker 1: with lots of aspirations and goals. It was hard for 441 00:24:57,436 --> 00:25:00,076 Speaker 1: her to be stuck home for so long, feeling listless 442 00:25:00,116 --> 00:25:03,276 Speaker 1: and lost in tough moments. The guilt of that period 443 00:25:03,396 --> 00:25:06,356 Speaker 1: still weighs heavily on her mind. When you have so 444 00:25:06,436 --> 00:25:11,076 Speaker 1: many months of feeling like stuck in neutral, it's really 445 00:25:11,916 --> 00:25:17,836 Speaker 1: challenging when I start really beating myself up, when that 446 00:25:17,876 --> 00:25:21,476 Speaker 1: inner mean girl starts ping ponging and just saying you're 447 00:25:21,516 --> 00:25:24,916 Speaker 1: not doing enough. The job that you've done isn't up 448 00:25:24,916 --> 00:25:27,716 Speaker 1: to par I can take Georgia out on the bike 449 00:25:28,196 --> 00:25:31,356 Speaker 1: and it all goes away, That all goes away, and 450 00:25:31,436 --> 00:25:36,116 Speaker 1: so for me, it's it's so important for my mental 451 00:25:36,156 --> 00:25:41,116 Speaker 1: health to have that really deep connection with her and 452 00:25:41,156 --> 00:25:44,796 Speaker 1: it shuts that mean girl up for a couple hours too. 453 00:25:46,036 --> 00:25:48,236 Speaker 1: We all have that mean girl. Y'all need our Georgia's. 454 00:25:51,036 --> 00:25:53,796 Speaker 1: Laurette's living proof that there are happiness benefits to getting 455 00:25:53,796 --> 00:25:56,796 Speaker 1: a dog if you put in a little work. It 456 00:25:56,876 --> 00:25:59,876 Speaker 1: doesn't require buying a vintage sidecar and a pair of doggles, 457 00:26:00,356 --> 00:26:02,556 Speaker 1: but to see real benefits, you need to get out 458 00:26:02,556 --> 00:26:05,236 Speaker 1: and walk your pup, to mindfully be more present when 459 00:26:05,236 --> 00:26:08,276 Speaker 1: you're out, to connect with the humans around you, and 460 00:26:08,356 --> 00:26:10,716 Speaker 1: to notice that sense of purpose that you get from 461 00:26:10,756 --> 00:26:13,996 Speaker 1: having a creature who needs you. In theory, all of 462 00:26:13,996 --> 00:26:16,756 Speaker 1: these practices should be easy to do, but Carrie has 463 00:26:16,796 --> 00:26:19,476 Speaker 1: found that a surprising number of dog owners don't always 464 00:26:19,516 --> 00:26:22,556 Speaker 1: hit the bar. You can't get the benefit of a blissful, 465 00:26:22,596 --> 00:26:25,036 Speaker 1: socially enriched walk if you never take your dog out 466 00:26:25,076 --> 00:26:27,836 Speaker 1: of the house, or if you're untrained pup snaps and 467 00:26:27,876 --> 00:26:31,676 Speaker 1: snarls at everyone passing by, And that is the big 468 00:26:31,716 --> 00:26:34,796 Speaker 1: insight of this episode. The benefits of being a dog 469 00:26:34,796 --> 00:26:37,436 Speaker 1: owner come less from the dog and more from you. 470 00:26:38,156 --> 00:26:40,036 Speaker 1: In the end, you're the one that needs to put 471 00:26:40,076 --> 00:26:43,996 Speaker 1: in the training and exercise and presence, which is actually 472 00:26:44,076 --> 00:26:46,716 Speaker 1: kind of good news in a way, because I know 473 00:26:46,836 --> 00:26:49,236 Speaker 1: tons of people who would love to get the happiness 474 00:26:49,276 --> 00:26:52,516 Speaker 1: boost that dogs provide, but live somewhere where they're not 475 00:26:52,516 --> 00:26:55,036 Speaker 1: allowed to have a pup, or who have allergies that 476 00:26:55,076 --> 00:26:57,636 Speaker 1: make living with a dog impossible, or who just aren't 477 00:26:57,636 --> 00:27:00,276 Speaker 1: in the right financial or emotional place to start caring 478 00:27:00,276 --> 00:27:02,876 Speaker 1: for a new pooch. And let's face it, there are 479 00:27:02,876 --> 00:27:05,796 Speaker 1: also people who are just not into pets. They'd surely 480 00:27:05,836 --> 00:27:08,276 Speaker 1: also love to enjoy some of the mental health benefits 481 00:27:08,276 --> 00:27:10,956 Speaker 1: of dog ownership, but maybe we choose to do so 482 00:27:11,036 --> 00:27:14,756 Speaker 1: without the fur and slobber. When we return from the break, 483 00:27:15,236 --> 00:27:17,836 Speaker 1: we'll see that non dog owners can also get some 484 00:27:17,916 --> 00:27:20,396 Speaker 1: of the joy that Laurette gets from Georgia. We'll hear 485 00:27:20,396 --> 00:27:22,996 Speaker 1: how one educator has found ways to help teach these 486 00:27:22,996 --> 00:27:26,596 Speaker 1: practices to her students, and how she's used the important 487 00:27:26,596 --> 00:27:30,676 Speaker 1: inspiration dogs provide to help teens develop new well being practices, 488 00:27:31,156 --> 00:27:34,356 Speaker 1: ones that will hopefully keep going strong even when there's 489 00:27:34,396 --> 00:27:37,916 Speaker 1: no pooch present. We'll learn how she did that when 490 00:27:37,916 --> 00:27:49,436 Speaker 1: the Happiness Lab returns in a moment. I grew up 491 00:27:49,436 --> 00:27:52,876 Speaker 1: with all kinds of animals, snakes, lizards, hamsters, gerbils. This 492 00:27:52,916 --> 00:27:56,716 Speaker 1: is Linda A. Dante, a psychiatrist based in Hanover, New Hampshire, 493 00:27:56,836 --> 00:27:58,996 Speaker 1: and I really believe when we work with animals and 494 00:27:59,036 --> 00:28:00,876 Speaker 1: we start to see the world through the perspective of 495 00:28:00,876 --> 00:28:03,236 Speaker 1: a creature that is not us, that is the most 496 00:28:03,316 --> 00:28:07,756 Speaker 1: poignant lesson for empathy. Linda has long recognized the importance 497 00:28:07,756 --> 00:28:11,356 Speaker 1: of lessons like these, especially for young people who struggle 498 00:28:11,396 --> 00:28:14,676 Speaker 1: with their mental health. I started using the term walking wounded. 499 00:28:14,796 --> 00:28:17,716 Speaker 1: You know of the student who excels, the student who 500 00:28:17,956 --> 00:28:20,196 Speaker 1: others envy because they seem to be able to do 501 00:28:20,236 --> 00:28:23,796 Speaker 1: it all, and then goes into college and crashes. But 502 00:28:23,956 --> 00:28:26,996 Speaker 1: Linda's biggest glimpse into the team mental health crisis came 503 00:28:27,036 --> 00:28:30,236 Speaker 1: from experiences closer to home. Linda serves as the community 504 00:28:30,356 --> 00:28:33,596 Speaker 1: educator at Hanover High, the school her two daughters attended. 505 00:28:33,996 --> 00:28:36,396 Speaker 1: I would say, hands down, it's a high pressure school. 506 00:28:36,436 --> 00:28:39,156 Speaker 1: I think there's you know, having Dartmouth College nearby, having 507 00:28:39,196 --> 00:28:42,036 Speaker 1: a lot of parents who are either professors or physicians 508 00:28:42,036 --> 00:28:45,916 Speaker 1: at the local medical center. You see students feeling the 509 00:28:45,956 --> 00:28:49,196 Speaker 1: pressure of you know, the grades, and you know, wanting 510 00:28:49,236 --> 00:28:52,916 Speaker 1: to be outstanding, and this is the trap, right outstanding 511 00:28:52,916 --> 00:28:56,836 Speaker 1: and everything. Linda had the same experience interacting with the striving, 512 00:28:56,876 --> 00:28:59,356 Speaker 1: stressed out students at Hanover High as I did in 513 00:28:59,356 --> 00:29:01,836 Speaker 1: my role as head of college at Yale. Like me, 514 00:29:02,076 --> 00:29:04,636 Speaker 1: she hated seeing what her learners were going through emotionally, 515 00:29:05,036 --> 00:29:07,396 Speaker 1: and like me, she wanted to figure out better ways 516 00:29:07,436 --> 00:29:10,396 Speaker 1: to teach her students evidence strategies they could use to 517 00:29:10,436 --> 00:29:13,916 Speaker 1: feel better. But unlike me, Linda worried that a typical 518 00:29:13,956 --> 00:29:17,356 Speaker 1: positive psychology curriculum might be a bit boring for students 519 00:29:17,356 --> 00:29:20,916 Speaker 1: whose attention spans were already being pulled in so many directions. 520 00:29:21,556 --> 00:29:23,876 Speaker 1: I've taught high school students long enough to know that 521 00:29:23,916 --> 00:29:26,116 Speaker 1: it doesn't take much time for them to glaze over 522 00:29:26,156 --> 00:29:29,036 Speaker 1: and mentally leaves the room if you're just talking at them. 523 00:29:29,316 --> 00:29:32,676 Speaker 1: So Linda decided to get creative. She partnered with her colleague, 524 00:29:32,676 --> 00:29:35,636 Speaker 1: Linda Danellec, an educational assistant at the high school, to 525 00:29:35,716 --> 00:29:38,556 Speaker 1: create a totally new course. The class the pair came 526 00:29:38,636 --> 00:29:40,996 Speaker 1: up with, and one that I absolutely wish I had 527 00:29:41,036 --> 00:29:45,196 Speaker 1: thought of myself, was called Canine University What I Can 528 00:29:45,316 --> 00:29:48,036 Speaker 1: Learn from My Dog. We were going to teach wellness 529 00:29:48,756 --> 00:29:53,036 Speaker 1: through the Eyes of the Dog. Canine University covered many 530 00:29:53,036 --> 00:29:54,996 Speaker 1: of the topics that I teach in my happiness class 531 00:29:54,996 --> 00:29:57,636 Speaker 1: at Yale and ones that you've probably heard about on 532 00:29:57,676 --> 00:30:03,636 Speaker 1: this podcast. Practices like social connection, gratitude, random acts of kindness, exercise, 533 00:30:03,716 --> 00:30:07,396 Speaker 1: and mindfulness, all of which are known to significantly improve 534 00:30:07,436 --> 00:30:11,156 Speaker 1: our happiness when practiced regular early. But Linda's students learned 535 00:30:11,156 --> 00:30:14,516 Speaker 1: about these topics not from a boring lecture. They saw 536 00:30:14,596 --> 00:30:18,596 Speaker 1: these behaviors modeled by some furry teachers. The two instructors 537 00:30:18,636 --> 00:30:23,316 Speaker 1: family pups Serena and Skipper. The concept of Canine University 538 00:30:23,436 --> 00:30:26,996 Speaker 1: was genius not only from a student engagement perspective, but 539 00:30:27,076 --> 00:30:30,396 Speaker 1: also from an empirical one. The course built directly off 540 00:30:30,436 --> 00:30:33,316 Speaker 1: the big insight that research or Carry Westguard talks about 541 00:30:33,316 --> 00:30:35,676 Speaker 1: in her book, that we can leverage the presence of 542 00:30:35,716 --> 00:30:38,396 Speaker 1: dogs in the short term to help us practice happiness 543 00:30:38,396 --> 00:30:41,556 Speaker 1: inducing behaviors in the long term. Linda didn't just want 544 00:30:41,556 --> 00:30:44,636 Speaker 1: her students to engage in mindfulness and gratitude and kindness 545 00:30:44,676 --> 00:30:47,636 Speaker 1: when Serena and Skipper were there. She also wanted her 546 00:30:47,636 --> 00:30:50,716 Speaker 1: students to see the benefits of these well being boosters overall, 547 00:30:51,316 --> 00:30:54,276 Speaker 1: even in times when there were no poochas present. Linda 548 00:30:54,396 --> 00:30:56,836 Speaker 1: was using a quick dose of dogs to inspire the 549 00:30:56,956 --> 00:31:00,356 Speaker 1: long term happiness strategies that benefit all of us, whether 550 00:31:00,396 --> 00:31:03,196 Speaker 1: we're a dog owner or not. Linda was able to 551 00:31:03,276 --> 00:31:06,076 Speaker 1: walk her students through nearly all of the important practices 552 00:31:06,276 --> 00:31:10,476 Speaker 1: that Carry identifies in her book. Starting with mindfulness, we 553 00:31:10,556 --> 00:31:13,596 Speaker 1: explained how dogs are present in the moment at all times. 554 00:31:13,756 --> 00:31:17,316 Speaker 1: Dogs really do bring their attention to something. They bring 555 00:31:17,356 --> 00:31:19,116 Speaker 1: it to each other when they're playing with each other. 556 00:31:19,396 --> 00:31:21,676 Speaker 1: How do we do that? How do we miss the mark? 557 00:31:21,796 --> 00:31:24,636 Speaker 1: So that's very much where the dogs were our teachers, 558 00:31:24,716 --> 00:31:27,836 Speaker 1: and that's why we had to have our professors, Serena 559 00:31:27,956 --> 00:31:29,916 Speaker 1: and Skipper in the room with us all the time. 560 00:31:30,316 --> 00:31:33,156 Speaker 1: Linda reasoned that having the pups present would also give 561 00:31:33,196 --> 00:31:35,756 Speaker 1: the students a chance to practice a second behavior that 562 00:31:35,836 --> 00:31:38,956 Speaker 1: science has shown can quickly boost our mood doing nice 563 00:31:38,996 --> 00:31:42,276 Speaker 1: things for others. Our theory being the best of us 564 00:31:42,276 --> 00:31:45,036 Speaker 1: comes out when we're with our K nine friends. But 565 00:31:45,076 --> 00:31:49,076 Speaker 1: that theory was confirmed more powerfully than Linda expected. When Serena, 566 00:31:49,116 --> 00:31:52,436 Speaker 1: Linda's small habannie assistant, got stage right at the start 567 00:31:52,436 --> 00:31:55,716 Speaker 1: of her first class. She was shaking like a leaf, 568 00:31:55,996 --> 00:32:00,836 Speaker 1: and to watch them immediately dropped to their knees, lay 569 00:32:00,876 --> 00:32:04,796 Speaker 1: on the floor and offer their hand in the most 570 00:32:04,876 --> 00:32:08,076 Speaker 1: gentle way, I thought, Wow, they're not afraid of being 571 00:32:08,116 --> 00:32:12,196 Speaker 1: embarrassed looking silly. There was an immediate connection. If you're 572 00:32:12,196 --> 00:32:15,036 Speaker 1: feeling sad, the best way to get happy quick is 573 00:32:15,036 --> 00:32:18,476 Speaker 1: to do something for someone else. Another surprise was how 574 00:32:18,516 --> 00:32:22,036 Speaker 1: quickly the dogs facilitated social connection between the humans taking 575 00:32:22,036 --> 00:32:24,836 Speaker 1: the course. What we saw was a group of students 576 00:32:24,876 --> 00:32:27,356 Speaker 1: who didn't know each other before the course began. In 577 00:32:27,436 --> 00:32:30,516 Speaker 1: over four days, they were talking and sharing and it 578 00:32:30,596 --> 00:32:33,676 Speaker 1: was an amazing just experience that happened over that period 579 00:32:33,716 --> 00:32:36,876 Speaker 1: of time. But the most impactful practice of the entire 580 00:32:36,916 --> 00:32:40,676 Speaker 1: four day class was the final course activity. The students 581 00:32:40,676 --> 00:32:42,596 Speaker 1: took a field trip with their own dogs if they 582 00:32:42,636 --> 00:32:47,356 Speaker 1: had one, to sex stores Pond. Getting them into the 583 00:32:47,396 --> 00:32:50,876 Speaker 1: woods with their dogs was the primary way for us 584 00:32:50,916 --> 00:32:52,116 Speaker 1: to have that as a sort of a little bit 585 00:32:52,116 --> 00:32:55,956 Speaker 1: of a learning laboratory. The field trip allowed students to 586 00:32:55,956 --> 00:32:58,916 Speaker 1: experience one of the practices you heard Carrie recommend before 587 00:32:59,396 --> 00:33:03,316 Speaker 1: exercising with your dog. But getting more movement wasn't Linda's 588 00:33:03,436 --> 00:33:06,556 Speaker 1: real motivation for the stores Pond trip. Because our kids 589 00:33:06,596 --> 00:33:09,596 Speaker 1: get out in the woods. They're athletes, they run, they walk. 590 00:33:09,676 --> 00:33:12,236 Speaker 1: We live in a very rural area. I wanted them 591 00:33:12,276 --> 00:33:16,996 Speaker 1: to be out there and paying attension. Linda wanted her 592 00:33:16,996 --> 00:33:20,396 Speaker 1: students to have an adventure in mindfulness. It was one 593 00:33:20,396 --> 00:33:22,636 Speaker 1: of the hardest final exams she could come up with. 594 00:33:23,396 --> 00:33:25,876 Speaker 1: I think they are so plugged into so many things 595 00:33:25,916 --> 00:33:30,636 Speaker 1: that the idea of resting the mind is hard, is difficult, 596 00:33:30,876 --> 00:33:34,796 Speaker 1: is challenging. But as with other practices in Canine University, 597 00:33:35,116 --> 00:33:37,756 Speaker 1: Linda was hoping that her students would closely follow the 598 00:33:37,876 --> 00:33:41,676 Speaker 1: lead of their canine mindfulness tutors. I really wanted everybody 599 00:33:41,716 --> 00:33:45,356 Speaker 1: to get on all fours and sniff the ground. What 600 00:33:45,396 --> 00:33:47,756 Speaker 1: we were able to do was, you know, just basically 601 00:33:47,796 --> 00:33:50,396 Speaker 1: to go out into the woods and glory with our 602 00:33:50,436 --> 00:33:53,436 Speaker 1: dogs as they sniffed the ground and wag their tails 603 00:33:53,476 --> 00:33:56,956 Speaker 1: and notice things. Even though Linda scaled back from forcing 604 00:33:56,956 --> 00:33:59,596 Speaker 1: her students to do the full on ground sniffing, she 605 00:33:59,676 --> 00:34:02,156 Speaker 1: did get them to follow their dogs lead by engaging 606 00:34:02,276 --> 00:34:04,796 Speaker 1: all of their senses more than they would have otherwise. 607 00:34:05,116 --> 00:34:08,076 Speaker 1: What senses are you using right now? What do you hear? 608 00:34:08,116 --> 00:34:10,036 Speaker 1: And as we were walking through it, I would say 609 00:34:10,076 --> 00:34:12,156 Speaker 1: what do you hear? And they would yell out water. 610 00:34:12,276 --> 00:34:14,956 Speaker 1: We hear water, you know, it might be my dog's panting. 611 00:34:15,036 --> 00:34:19,396 Speaker 1: But the idea is we listen, but we only queue 612 00:34:19,396 --> 00:34:22,636 Speaker 1: into the sounds we have to worry about. We don't 613 00:34:22,716 --> 00:34:25,676 Speaker 1: queue into the sounds that give us pleasure. And again, 614 00:34:26,036 --> 00:34:28,236 Speaker 1: pore time, I would have them walking in their bare feet. 615 00:34:28,476 --> 00:34:30,116 Speaker 1: You know, it's like, what does it feel like? What 616 00:34:30,156 --> 00:34:32,396 Speaker 1: does the gravel feel like? What does the grass feel like. 617 00:34:33,396 --> 00:34:36,716 Speaker 1: After this sensory exercise and a whole week of dog tutelage, 618 00:34:37,116 --> 00:34:39,876 Speaker 1: Blinda gave Serena Skipper and her students the rest of 619 00:34:39,876 --> 00:34:43,036 Speaker 1: the afternoon off. Her pupils had several hours to do 620 00:34:43,156 --> 00:34:46,556 Speaker 1: whatever they wanted. Its stores ponned. Blnda was interested and 621 00:34:46,636 --> 00:34:49,036 Speaker 1: whether the experience with dogs over the last few days 622 00:34:49,476 --> 00:34:52,236 Speaker 1: had changed the way her students carried themselves during a 623 00:34:52,276 --> 00:34:56,716 Speaker 1: time when she wasn't directly conducting happiness lessons. She hypothesized 624 00:34:56,716 --> 00:34:59,316 Speaker 1: that there'd be a change in her student's behavior, but 625 00:34:59,436 --> 00:35:02,116 Speaker 1: to see it firsthand, and to see that transformation, I 626 00:35:02,156 --> 00:35:05,156 Speaker 1: expected it to happen. I was impressed with how much 627 00:35:05,316 --> 00:35:08,796 Speaker 1: happened in four days and how quickly. Students who would 628 00:35:08,876 --> 00:35:11,276 Speaker 1: usually we be stuck on their phones, spent the afternoon 629 00:35:11,476 --> 00:35:14,676 Speaker 1: being social in real life with one another. They even 630 00:35:14,796 --> 00:35:17,716 Speaker 1: used the time to connect with their instructors. Like most 631 00:35:17,796 --> 00:35:20,516 Speaker 1: high school teachers, Linda was used to being snubbed by 632 00:35:20,516 --> 00:35:23,796 Speaker 1: shy students who didn't know her well. But on that walk, 633 00:35:23,956 --> 00:35:26,716 Speaker 1: I really believe it was the dog connection. There was 634 00:35:26,876 --> 00:35:29,356 Speaker 1: so much they found to talk to me about and 635 00:35:29,596 --> 00:35:33,156 Speaker 1: joke with me about again, an immediate connection, you know, 636 00:35:33,356 --> 00:35:37,276 Speaker 1: I mean they just looked more relaxed. But as a 637 00:35:37,316 --> 00:35:40,556 Speaker 1: mental health professional, Linda didn't just want to rely on anecdotes. 638 00:35:41,116 --> 00:35:44,676 Speaker 1: When Linda originally designed Kenyane University, she planned to use 639 00:35:44,676 --> 00:35:47,076 Speaker 1: a set of state of the art empirical surveys to 640 00:35:47,156 --> 00:35:49,836 Speaker 1: measure whether the class had a positive effect on students 641 00:35:49,836 --> 00:35:53,276 Speaker 1: well being in such a short time. She had planned 642 00:35:53,276 --> 00:35:55,836 Speaker 1: to do a bunch of pre and post assessments of students' 643 00:35:55,876 --> 00:35:58,836 Speaker 1: mood and well being, but in the end, her students 644 00:35:58,836 --> 00:36:02,636 Speaker 1: were too busy being with their dogs and well just being, 645 00:36:03,196 --> 00:36:06,436 Speaker 1: which in retrospect, Linda realizes was probably a good thing. 646 00:36:07,076 --> 00:36:08,836 Speaker 1: I had a lot of things I was going to do, 647 00:36:09,116 --> 00:36:10,916 Speaker 1: and as I got to see the students what I 648 00:36:10,956 --> 00:36:15,956 Speaker 1: realized they were not at all interested in doing that. 649 00:36:16,396 --> 00:36:19,196 Speaker 1: They wanted to be in the moment. So we didn't 650 00:36:19,196 --> 00:36:22,836 Speaker 1: measure it. We experienced it, we laughed about it. We 651 00:36:22,836 --> 00:36:26,516 Speaker 1: were in the moment. Linda didn't need a survey to 652 00:36:26,516 --> 00:36:29,356 Speaker 1: see just how transformed her students seemed after the class. 653 00:36:29,876 --> 00:36:33,196 Speaker 1: Her experience with Canine University taught her that brief interactions 654 00:36:33,196 --> 00:36:35,436 Speaker 1: with dogs can be an inspiration for all of us, 655 00:36:35,676 --> 00:36:37,836 Speaker 1: no matter whether we have a pet or not to 656 00:36:37,836 --> 00:36:41,396 Speaker 1: help us adopt new strategies that positively affect our well being. 657 00:36:42,116 --> 00:36:44,636 Speaker 1: So does Linda hope that someday dogs will be giving 658 00:36:44,716 --> 00:36:47,636 Speaker 1: lessons that every high school. Oh, well, that would be 659 00:36:47,716 --> 00:36:54,436 Speaker 1: my dream. Yes, I agree with Linda here. I think 660 00:36:54,476 --> 00:36:56,156 Speaker 1: we'd all be better off if we had a little 661 00:36:56,196 --> 00:36:59,636 Speaker 1: canine university in our lives. But we don't necessarily need 662 00:36:59,676 --> 00:37:02,316 Speaker 1: to high school, spring intensive course or even our own 663 00:37:02,356 --> 00:37:06,476 Speaker 1: personal pet dog to get that needed canine education. The 664 00:37:06,556 --> 00:37:08,156 Speaker 1: science shows that we can get a lot of the 665 00:37:08,156 --> 00:37:10,996 Speaker 1: happiness benefits that come from being around a dog if 666 00:37:11,036 --> 00:37:13,996 Speaker 1: we just remember to ask ourselves that all important question, 667 00:37:14,836 --> 00:37:18,316 Speaker 1: what would a dog do? Right now? By following this 668 00:37:18,356 --> 00:37:20,996 Speaker 1: sort of canine lead, you'll start using more of your 669 00:37:21,036 --> 00:37:24,116 Speaker 1: senses and getting curious and present with the world around you, 670 00:37:24,676 --> 00:37:28,356 Speaker 1: and even maybe start moving more. With a little canine inspiration, 671 00:37:28,716 --> 00:37:31,716 Speaker 1: we can naturally wind up engaging in practices that I'll 672 00:37:31,756 --> 00:37:34,876 Speaker 1: get our metaphorical human tales wagging, and that will help 673 00:37:34,956 --> 00:37:41,876 Speaker 1: us feel a little happier. The Happiness Lab is co 674 00:37:41,956 --> 00:37:44,836 Speaker 1: written and produced by Ryan Dilley. Our original music was 675 00:37:44,876 --> 00:37:48,516 Speaker 1: composed by Zachary Silver, with additional scoring, mixing, and mastering 676 00:37:48,556 --> 00:37:52,556 Speaker 1: by Evan Biola, Joseph Friedman checked our facts. Sophie Crane 677 00:37:52,636 --> 00:37:56,956 Speaker 1: mckibbon edited our scripts. Marilyn Rust offered additional production support. 678 00:37:57,476 --> 00:38:02,196 Speaker 1: Special thanks to Miela Belle, Carly mcgliori, Heather Faine, Maggie Taylor, 679 00:38:02,556 --> 00:38:07,636 Speaker 1: Daniella Lucarne, Maya Knig, Nicole Morano, Eric Xandler, Royston Bizzer, 680 00:38:08,036 --> 00:38:11,756 Speaker 1: Jacob Weisberg, my agent, Ben Davis, that Pinus Lab is 681 00:38:11,796 --> 00:38:14,596 Speaker 1: brought to you by Pushkin Industries. And meet doctor Laurie 682 00:38:14,636 --> 00:38:15,116 Speaker 1: Santos