It’s well-established that your dog can tell when you’re upset or stressed, and will try to cheer you up, but did you know that’s not the only way they respond to your stress? According to a new scientific study done by researchers at the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom, dogs can smell stress that’s released through human sweat and breath. In turn, they can exhibit significantly different emotions and behaviors in response to this.
After conducting behavioral tests on 18 dogs exposed to both stressed human smells and relaxed human smells, researchers discovered that the dogs’ emotions and behaviors changed during testing after sniffing either smell. The results of this research both highlight the connections between human and dog emotions and also could help improve the well-being of dogs in kennels, as well as the training ability of companion and working dogs.
How The Researchers Studied The Effects of Human Stress On Dogs
In their paper published in the journal Scientific Studies on July 22nd, the researchers explain how they wanted to determine if and how human smells would affect dogs’ emotional states and learning abilities. The scientists recruited 18 canines, including two springer spaniels, two cocker spaniels, two Labrador retrievers, two Braque d’Auvergne, one whippet, one golden retriever, one miniature poodle, and seven mixed-breed dogs all aged eight months to 10 years old, and 11 human owners, including 10 women and one man all aged 18 to 26, to participate in the study.
The scientists set up trials to test how quickly or slowly the animals could find food after exposure to different human smells. During the trials, the dogs were trained that a food bowl placed in one location had a treat, while a second bowl placed in a different location was empty. Once the canines learned the difference between the bowls and knew to go over to the one with a treat, the researchers placed a third bowl in an ambiguous location between the first two; then they tested how quickly the animals would approach it.
The researchers had the dogs perform these tasks multiple times. For some trials, the canines weren’t exposed to any particular human smell beforehand. In the other trials, the dogs were exposed to smells from stressed or relaxed humans and then released to perform the tasks. The scientists gathered the stressed smells by having the humans take arithmetic tests and deliver speeches with minimal preparation and the relaxed smells by having them watch nature videos and listen to soundscapes; they then collected saliva and sweat from the participants.
How The Dogs’ Behaviors Changed Based on Different Stimuli
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When the dogs were exposed to no smells or only relaxed human smells, they approached the ambiguously placed third bowl much faster, regardless of whether that bowl had a treat in it. To the researchers, this behavior indicated that the canines were in a positive emotional state and optimistic that the third bowl contained a treat — and, therefore, a reward for them.
On the other hand, when the dogs were exposed to stressed human smells, they approached the third bowl nearest to the trained location of the empty bowl much slower. To the researchers, this indicated that the canines were in a negative emotional state and pessimistic that the third bowl contained no treat for them, whether or not the bowl actually did have one.
Although the canines expressed pessimistic behaviors when exposed to stressed human smells, the researchers found that the animals continued improving their learning abilities when it came to determining whether food was present or absent; they also improved faster whenever the stressed smell was present. They also suggested that the pessimistic responses could be a way for them to conserve energy and avoid disappointment should they fail to find food.
What This Research Means
According to Dr. Nicola Rooney, the lead author of the paper and a senior lecturer in wildlife and conservation at Bristol Veterinary School, the team’s research shows that dogs can be affected by the emotions of their owners as well as stressed, unfamiliar humans. In her words, stress travels not only “down the lead” but also “through the air” to impact how the canines feel, learn, and perceive rewards.
Rooney also suggests that dog owners, kennel owners, caretakers, and trainers should consider how their stress affects their dogs’ emotional states and receptiveness to training. By better understanding this connection, anyone who owns or works with these animals can help improve the canines’ overall well-being and training, in any capacity.
Final Thoughts
Often intimately aware of their owners’ emotions, dogs adjust their behaviors accordingly. Based on research conducted by scientists at the University of Bristol, they can smell stress from people’s breath or sweat. When they smell it, they can express negative emotional states and make pessimistic choices when being trained or searching for food. That smell isn’t entirely negative, though, since it might help them to learn faster, conserve energy, and temper disappointment.
According to scientists, understanding how human stress affects canine behavior could help people better care for and train dogs for companionship, assistance, therapy, and other working roles. Learning more about how deeply human and dog emotions are connected can also help you understand how your canine companion adapts to changes in the emotions of people around them.
Disclaimer: This article is intended simply to provide information. It does not replace the advice of a veterinarian or trainer. Please speak with your veterinarian or dog trainer if you have any questions or concerns about your dog’s behavior.
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