Even though petting or playing with a dog can help make you less stressed, the unfortunate flip side is that your stress can sometimes spread to your dog. Swedish researchers did a study of a few dozen Shetland sheepdogs and border collies with female owners. They found that higher levels of stress — as measured by the cortisol found in hair samples — in the humans correlated quite closely with high levels of stress in the dogs. This is the first study to find a connection suggesting that dogs can pick up on their owners’ stress.
Key Takeaways:
- Cortisol synchronization can happen between dogs and their owners, as established by hair tests.
- Canine lifestyle is not as big a factor in stress as the personality and stress level of the owner.
- If you are frequently stressed, it is better for you and for the dog to choose a breed that tends to be more relaxed.
“Dogs might ease your stress, but they can also catch it.”
Read more: https://curiosity.com/topics/a-new-study-says-your-stress-can-spread-to-your-dog-curiosity