Last Updated on July 24, 2024 by Dog Lover
Research shows that human stress can significantly affect dogs’ mood and behavior, revealing a surprising link between our emotional states and our pets’ feelings. This groundbreaking study highlights how stress transmitted through human interactions can lead to increased pessimism in dogs.
It has long been known that dogs can detect human stress levels, but recent research dives deeper into how this affects them. Scientists now believe that when dogs sense their owners are stressed, it leads to noticeable changes in their behavior, including heightened pessimism.
Dr. Nicola Rooney, a senior lecturer at the University of Bristol’s veterinary school and lead author of the study, explained, “We’ve discovered that the scent of a stressed person can alter a dog’s emotional state, perception of rewards, and learning abilities. The stress doesn’t just affect dogs through direct interaction but also through the air.”
The study used a test designed to measure optimism or pessimism in dogs, based on their responses to food bowls placed in various locations. The experiment involved 18 dog-owner pairs, where dogs learned that bowls in certain locations contained treats while others were empty.
In the trials, dogs showed faster approaches to treat-filled bowls and slower responses to empty bowls. Researchers introduced new, ambiguous bowl locations to gauge how quickly dogs would approach these areas. A quick approach suggested optimism, while a slow response indicated pessimism.
Dogs were exposed to either stressed or relaxed human scents during the trials. The results showed that dogs exposed to stress odors were slower to approach new bowl locations, expecting them to be empty, similar to the location associated with empty bowls. This behavior was not observed when dogs were exposed to relaxed odors.
These findings reveal that stress transmitted through human scent can negatively impact dogs’ emotional states, leading to increased pessimism and altered expectations about rewards. Understanding this relationship is crucial for improving the well-being of dogs in various settings, including kennels and during training.
By recognizing how human emotions affect their pets, dog owners can take steps to mitigate stress and ensure a positive environment for their animals. This study underscores the importance of managing our own stress to promote better emotional health for our canine companions.
Explore More: theguardian
