Are You A Stress Ball? Your Dog Can Smell It

We all experience stress differently, but we can all also recognize some of the typical signs of it - sweating, heavy breathing, behavior changes, and more.

While your spouse, family member, or coworker might be able tyo easily recognize that you're feeling stressed, you might not be considering how your dog feels.

Dogs are very smart and intuitive creatures; they can sense when we're happy or sad, so it makes sense that they'd be able to sense when we're stressed. But it might not be in the way you think.

Do Dogs Know We're Upset?

You've probably noticed that dogs will typically match your energy. If you're jumping up and down, they get excited, and if you're yelling, they might run away with their tail between their legs.

But it's not just your movements or voice that might give your dog some indication of how you're feeling. Some experts believe that dogs can determine how we're feeling simply based on our facial expressions.

A few ways you might be able to tell your dog knows you're upset is giving you puppy eyes, crying or whining, or avoiding eye contact.

While dogs can sense your anger, they can also sense your sadness. According to a study, dogs are more likely to approach someone crying over someone who was talking or humming.

Not only are dogs able to sense when we're upset, but they also tend to want to help. Your dog may approach you submissely when you're crying or cuddle up next to you. Either way - these could be signs that your pup wants to help you feel better.

How Do Dogs Sense Stress?

Aside from our body language, voice, and facial expressions, dogs might be able to sense your stress through another one of their strong senses - smell.

A study conducted by the University of Bristol suggests that the smell of stress through your sweat and breath can influence dogs to make certain decisions.

Dr Nicola Rooney, senior lecturer in wildlife and conservation at Bristol Veterinary School said, “Dog owners know how attuned their pets are to their emotions, but here we show that even the odour of a stressed, unfamiliar human affects a dog’s emotional state, perception of rewards, and ability to learn."

She added, “Working dog handlers often describe stress travelling down the lead, but we’ve shown it can also travel through the air.”

What the Study Entailed

The study involved training 18 dogs to associate one location with a food reward and another with an empty bowl.

The 18 dogs involved in the study represented a diverse range of breeds, including springer spaniels, cocker spaniels, labrador retrievers, and mixed breeds.

Once the dogs learned to differentiate between the two bowls, they were introduced to a third location. The speed at which they approached this new location represented their optimism – a quick approach signified a positive outlook and expecting a reward, while a slower pace indicated pessimism.

To dive even deeper into this canine cognition, researchers exposed the dogs to either the scent of human stress or relaxation. The results were intriguing.

Dogs exposed to the stress scent were significantly slower to approach the new location, suggesting they had a more pessimistic outlook. This behavior was interpreted as an energy conservation strategy, similar to when humans become more cautious in stressful situations.

Conversely, dogs exposed to the relaxed scent showed no such hesitation, maintaining their optimistic approach.

This groundbreaking research challenges our understanding of canine psychology, suggesting that dogs not only perceive human emotions but also actively respond to them by adjusting their own emotional states. It's a fascinating glimpse into the complex world of our furry companions and their deep-rooted bond with humans.

The study also highlights the importance of creating a positive environment for our pets. By being mindful of our own stress levels, we can potentially influence our dogs' emotional well-being. It's a reminder that the connection between humans and animals is far more intricate than we ever imagined.

While the study opens new avenues for understanding canine behavior, it's essential to note that the sample size was relatively small and further research is needed to solidify these findings.

Nevertheless, this study marks a significant step forward in understanding the emotional intelligence of our furry family members.

How to Keep Our Dogs Happy

Now that science has shown us our dogs can sense when we're upset, it's important that we know how to keep our best friends happy.

Everyone is allowed to express their emotions - whether it be anger, sadness, excitement, or stress - especially when you're in your own home. However, if you don't want to put more stress on your pup too, it's important to know how to handle your emotions around them.

Through Anger

Let's start with anger. Maybe you had a long day at work, and you come home to find your dog chewed up your favorite pair of shoes. It's completely normal to be upset and even angry.

But keep in mind, your dog may have chewed on the shoes because they were feeling stressed, anxious, or bored. While dogs should be aware that some behaviors are not acceptable, remember to not stay mad at them for too long.

Once you make your point clear, go back to loving them or being their best bud. Also remember that positive reinforcement works well with dogs.

Through Sadness

If you're feeling sad, it's normal to want to cry, lay in bed, or be by yourself. Your dog might want to be around you to help comfort you, and you might love their company. Other times, you might not feel like snuggling up.

Your pup may try to comfort you in different ways - such as nudging you with their nose, staring at you deeply, or cuddling up close.

Some dogs might even mirror your emotions and become sad when you are. Remember to give them love and appreciate them when they try to help.

Through Stress

When it comes to stress, some of us may deal with it through anger. In this case, it's important to not direct that at your dog - even if they're the one causing your stress in the moment.

If you need a minute to collect yourself if you're feeling particularly upset, walk into another room, take a breath, and don't dwell on it.

However, often times, stress can be caused by problems with work, money, or family in which case your dog might be able to help. No, your best furry friend won't be able to pay your rent or get you that promotion, but they can help lower stress.

Studies suggest just by petting a dog, you can lower the stress hormone, cortisol, and increase the feel-good hormone, oxytocin. This happens to be the same hormone that bonds mother and babies.

In addition, 84% of PTSD patients that had a service dog reported less symptoms and 40% decreased their medication.

Don't Be a Stress Ball

Stress is a completely normal part of life, and humans and our dogs can feel it. It's okay to be stressed and express your emotions, but remember that your dog might not always understand or respond to yelling or negative reinforcement.

Whether your pup is reading your facial expressions or smelling your stress, know that they love you unconditionally, and they onloy ask for that love in return.