Dogs Can Smell When You’re Stressed

Lisa Selvaggio
by Lisa Selvaggio

Researchers have discovered that dogs can smell human stress and it can affect the way they make decisions. The study was conducted in the United Kingdom, and helps shed more light on how dogs can be impacted by the emotions experienced by people.

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How the Study Was Conducted


Volunteers were asked to perform in high-stress situations, like giving a speech and solving math problems, so that researchers could collect samples of their sweat and breath, and collect the scent of stress. After moving through the stressful activities, the participants were able to relax comfortably while watching a calming video so the researchers could collect the scent of relaxation.


Researchers also trained dogs (who didn’t know the human volunteers) in a study room that had food bowls in different areas of the space. Basically, the dogs learned that a bowl in a particular location was always empty while a bowl in another location would contain food.  


Then, a bowl was placed in a new spot, called an ambiguous location, to see if the dogs would approach with optimism or pessimism. If a dog were to walk to the bowl to check it out right away, they were optimistic that there would be food in it. On the other hand, if they didn’t go to it right away to look for food, they were considered pessimistic.


The Results After Smelling Stress vs. Relaxation


Using cloths from the human volunteers, the dogs were exposed to the scents of stress and relaxation. After sniffing a cloth, a dog would be allowed to approach a bowl in an ambiguous location.


The researchers noticed that the dogs became pessimistic and hesitant to go to the bowl after they smelled stress. But when they smelled the scent from a relaxed volunteer, their behavior didn’t change.


This tells experts that dogs can be affected by the moods of their owners or trainers. If they sniff you and realize that you’re unhappy, frustrated, or stressed, their behavior may change, especially in situations when they aren’t sure if they’ll be disappointed or rewarded for taking a risk.


So, when training your dog, it’s best to be in a positive, relaxed state of mind. If you’re feeling negative emotions, they’ll likely pick up on that and, as a result, their ability to learn, their decision-making, and their performance may be altered.


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Lisa Selvaggio
Lisa Selvaggio

Lisa Selvaggio is a freelance writer and editor, and our resident cats-pert, with certifications in pet nutrition and pet first aid. She enjoys producing content that helps people understand animals better so they can give their pets a safe and happy home.

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