Do Nervous Dog Owners Have Nervous Dogs?

We all know that dogs can help to make us happier and less stressed, but have you ever stopped to think about the impact that your personality could be having on your pup? A recent study might indicate that anxious or nervous dog owners are more likely to have nervous or tense pets too. The research comes from the University of Vienna, and was handled by a team of investigators that published their findings in the journal, PLOS ONE.

Just like many of the most recent studies that have been carried out regarding emotional reactions in people and dogs, the research focused on the levels of cortisol in the system. Cortisol is the hormone that is related to a person’s response to stress.
What Did the Study Discover?

The new study looked at 132 dog owners and their pets. The amount of stress that was present in terms of the hormone cortisol was measured in the saliva of owners and their dogs, and tests were taken multiple times throughout the day while the dogs were exposed to new situations that were designed to mildly provoke anxiety.

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The study took a closer look into the factors that can cause stress and anxiety in dogs, and also examined various behavioral measures including measures of the owner’s personality. Importantly, the study found that dog owners who scored high in neuroticism had dogs that had low variability in their cortisol levels. In other words, dogs with highly stressed owners are less able to cope with stress.

Getting Help for your Dog

The researchers from the study quickly emphasized just how important their results appear to be in terms of the relationship between pets and their owners. If you might be suffering from severe periods of stress, then you could find that seeking help is not only a way to make your life happier and easier, but improve the wellbeing of your dog too!

Related: Ever Wonder What Your Dog Is Trying To Tell You? We Have The Answers!

Dogs are incredibly intelligent creatures that can read the behaviors and emotions of their owners. If you appear to think that the world around you is more dangerous than it is, the chances are your dog will feel that way too.

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