Recent research reveals that dogs can pick up on human stress scents, influencing their emotions and leading them to make more negative decisions. The study conducted by the University of Bristol is the first of its kind to examine how the smell of human stress affects dogs’ emotional well-being.
Studies in humans have shown that the scent of a stressed individual can subconsciously impact the emotions and choices of those around them. Researchers at the Bristol Veterinary School set out to investigate if dogs also undergo changes in their emotional state and learning abilities in response to scents of human stress or relaxation.
The team employed a testing method to determine if animals display ‘optimistic’ or ‘pessimistic’ behaviors based on their choices, which can indicate positive or negative emotions, respectively.
Eighteen dog-owner pairs participated in a series of trials involving different human scents. Dogs were trained to associate a specific bowl location with the presence or absence of a treat. The researchers then examined how the dogs reacted to new bowl locations placed between the familiar ones.
The results showed that when exposed to stress odors, dogs hesitated to approach the ambiguous bowl location closest to where the empty bowl was placed, indicating a more negative emotional state. This behavior was not observed when relaxed scents were present. The findings suggest that the stress scent led the dogs to expect no food in the new location, similar to the empty bowl location nearby.
This ‘pessimistic’ response is seen as a way for dogs to conserve energy and avoid potential disappointment. Additionally, the study revealed that dogs learned faster about the treat locations when the stress scent was present.
Dr. Nicola Rooney, Senior Lecturer in Wildlife and Conservation at Bristol Veterinary School and lead author of the study, highlighted the importance of understanding how human stress can impact dogs’ well-being, especially in scenarios such as kennels or training settings. The study emphasizes the influence of human emotions on dogs’ perception of rewards and learning abilities, showcasing how even the scent of a stressed person can affect a dog’s emotional state.
Dr. Zoe Parr-Cortes, a PhD student at Bristol Veterinary School and primary researcher, expressed gratitude to all participants and dog owners involved in the study. The dogs in the research varied in age and breed, including teaching dogs from the University of Bristol.
