Research: A stressed person’s dog does not believe that food is available

When the dog has sniffed the sweat of a relaxed person, it thinks the food cup is full, but after smelling the sweat of a stressed person, it thinks the cup is empty.

The stress contagion from humans seems to make dogs more pessimistic.

Asia found out in an experiment in which the hairballs had been taught that when placed in a certain corner, the cup contained a treat, and when moved to another corner, it did not. Then it was observed how eagerly they approached the cup, which was placed in the middle ground.

British researchers had recruited 18 dogs representing many breeds and their mixes. When the cup was offered, the researchers observed whether the dog went towards it or not, and if so, how quickly.

The intermediate cup represented an uncertain benefit because the dog could not tell if there was food in it or not. In the experiments, those who smelled human stress sweat clearly did not approach this cup as closely as the others. Maybe they thought there was nothing in the cup.

In advance it was known that when stressed, people themselves avoid risks and possible disappointments when getting something they want is unlikely.

It was also known that dogs can smell human stress, but its effect on their mood had not been studied before.

The smell of human fear has indeed been found to cause stress reactions in dogs. In addition, the smell of a happy person has been found to make them bolder in making acquaintances with strangers, the researchers describe In Scientific Reports.

Published in Science in Nature 8/24