Can Dogs Feel Your Stress?
Can Dogs Feel Your Stress?
The other day I was talking with a client whose dog suddenly couldn't stop itching. When I asked if anything stressful was happening at home, she mentioned her partner had just been diagnosed with cancer.
They hadn’t connected the dots, I but think these events are likely related.
I know this might sound a bit out there to some. But science actually backs up this connection. There's solid research showing dogs are incredibly tuned in to our emotional states.
Your dog's health is often a reflection of both your own health and your household stress levels.
Dogs are emotional sponges
Dogs have evolved an extraordinary ability to tune into our emotions. They can sense stress hormones through smell and pick up on the subtlest changes in our body language, posture, and facial expressions.
Remarkably, research reveals dogs can detect illness in humans before we even notice symptoms. Their incredible noses can identify conditions like cancer and diabetes with surprising accuracy.
We are also physically connected to our dogs. Studies show that a dog's heart rate is linked with their human's, and they experience stress levels that mirror our own.
Dogs are more than our best friends - they are literally part of us!
However, unlike humans, dogs lack the cognitive filters we use to compartmentalise stress and cannot rationalise emotional signals. Combined with their need for routine, this makes them especially sensitive to disruptions in their environment.
Understanding this connection has profound implications for your dogs health.
How stress manifests in dogs
Dogs can respond to physical stress with a variety of physical symptoms. The most common are digestive and skin problems, but there can also be behavioural or other chronic health implications.
Research confirms a direct link between stress and illness in dogs. While brief amounts of stress may boost immunity, chronic stress tends to weaken the immune system. This makes dogs more vulnerable to infections and other health problems.
This can manifest as digestive upset (which is the source of scratching), skin conditions, lethargy, loss of appetite, weight gain or loss, and a depressed mental state.
Obviously this is only part of the picture, but if your dog is unwell it’s worth looking at the environment they live in (which includes you!) to see if there is anything that may be contributing to it.
What can cause your dog stress
new family members
relationship changes
death in the family
moving house
arguments or stress
human illness
How to help your dog if they are stressed
Stability: Create a consistent routine for your dog with regular feeding times and walks. Dogs thrive on predictability, and having a predictable schedule helps to them feel secure. When changes must occur, introducing them gradually can help to reduce stress.
Environmental Enrichment: Provide mental stimulation through puzzle toys, training sessions, and rotating toys to prevent boredom. Enrichment activities engage your dog's natural instincts and problem solving abilities, redirecting nervous energy. Even simple games like hiding treats around the house can help reduce anxiety - and be fun!
Exercise: Ensure your dog receives adequate physical activity appropriate for their breed, age, and health status. Regular exercise releases endorphins that naturally combat stress and reduces restless behaviour. A tired dog is typically a calmer dog, with fewer stress behaviours like excessive barking or destructive chewing.
CBD: Research on CBD for canine stress is still emerging, but preliminary studies suggest it may help some dogs. We have found CBD to be extremely helpful with Nelly in reducing her anxiety after her dog attack a few years ago.
