Researchers say they have uncovered this “strange” finding: Lonely seniors prefer to play with a dog alone rather than with other people present.

Nursing home residents were much less lonely after spending quiet time alone with a dog, compared to time with a dog and other people, said Dr. William Banks, professor of Geriatrics at St. Louis University School of Medicine.

“It was a strange finding,” said Banks, a member of the department of internal medicine and professor of pharmacological and physiological sciences. “We had thought that the dog acts as a social lubricant and increases the interaction between the residents. We expected the group dog visits were going to work better, but they didn’t.”

Banks’ findings will be published in the March issue of the quarterly journal Anthrozoos, which explores the interactions of people and animals.