Does Human Contact Reduce Dogs' Stress?

Plenty of research (not to mention lots of personal experience) reminds us that contact with our canine companions reduces our stress and lowers our blood pressure. To quote Aaron Katcher, M.D., professor emeritus of Psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania, “When we are around animals, we become more joyous, communicative, expressive and calm.”

Does It Work Both Ways?

Cocker Spaniel and Brown Poodle Relaxing During a Walk

But is this just an emotional one-way street, or does contact with us also affect stress experienced by our pets? One research project showed how even temporary contact with humans reduced levels of the stress hormone cortisol in shelter dogs. Previous studies have shown that dogs housed in shelters show higher levels of cortisol than do companion dogs. Even as little as 30 minutes of human contact reduces this stress indicator, however.

Researchers took dogs from shelters in five states and placed them in foster homes for either one or two nights. Their cortisol levels were measured before, during and after their foster stays. The research team found that the dogs’ mean cortisol levels were significantly lower during their time in humans’ homes. After returning to the shelters, the dogs’ cortisol returned to roughly the before-sleepover levels. This suggests that the stress-lowering effect of human contact, though significant (cortisol reductions of between 12 percent and 25 percent), were short-lived. In effect, the time away from the shelter was like a brief holiday from work. Stress returns when you get back to the job.

“It was an open question if it would be stressful for dogs to come back to the shelter after being away for a weekend but because of this study, we know a sleepover is a very welcome break," said Debbie McKnight, Vice President of Field and Animal Welfare at the Arizona Humane Society (AHS). AHS was one of the five shelters that participated in the study. "The sleepovers let us find out so much about how a dog behaves in a home, and that knowledge helps us match them to their forever home."

Human-Dog Stress Contagion Varies by Breed

If human contact affects the stress that dogs experience, is the effect the same for all dog breeds? Another research project looked at how stress in dogs relates to relationships with humans across three breed categories:

• Ancient breeds (dogs like Salukis and Malamutes, with comparatively close genetic relationships to wolves).

• Solitary hunting dogs (such as Greyhounds and Irish Wolfhounds, which hunt and capture prey largely independently of human interaction).

• Herding dogs (well-known breeds like Border Collies and Australian Shepherds).

Adult White Poodle Playing with Brown Puppies

The researchers confirmed what they had discovered in earlier projects: dogs in the herding breed group had stronger tendencies to reflect the stress experienced by their owners than did dogs in the hunting or ancient breed groups. Herding dogs, after all, were bred to pay close attention to their handlers and to respond to their directions immediately and precisely. Close cooperation might also mean perceiving and taking on the handler’s stress.

Dogs in the ancient breed group are known to have stand-offish tendencies (sometimes reflected in social aggression aimed at other dogs), though they are often kept as companion animals. An aloof animal worried mostly about relationships with other dogs may not be highly vulnerable to stress contagion from its human contacts.

Owners of solitary hunting dogs reported that they have their canines chiefly for hunting purposes, rather than as companions, which may render their relationships comparatively businesslike. Consequently, the owners say they experience fewer positive interactions with their dogs, perceive weaker emotional bonds and think of their animals as relatively costly to maintain.

Breed Purpose Matters

Beautiful White Poodle Relaxing on the Bed

Here again, the purpose for which we bred our dogs affects how we interact with them. Dogs bred largely to work alone (solitary hunters) or do simple but physically challenging tasks (sled-pullers) tend to be less sensitive to the emotional signals of their owners. Conversely, herding dogs, known for their intellect, trainability and connection with their owners, are more likely to take on some of the stress their handlers may be experiencing at any moment.

We know that our dogs can intertwine themselves in just about every facet of our lives. Just as we can be soothed by their companionship, we can either reduce or increase their anxiety simply with our presence.

All Images Courtesy of MobilityDog.org.