Stress in humans may affect how optimistic dogs feel: new study
A person's emotional state can affect a pet.
How human neuroticism affects the psyche of dogs
Human emotional states have an impact on dogs, according to a new study.
Pets are highly susceptible to human emotions and react to stress, anxiety and fear of the owner.
This affects the dog's ability to learn.
Scientists found that the smell of stress slowed the dogs' approach to an unspecified location where they were accustomed to finding empty bowls.
This effect was not observed when exposed to a relaxing odor.
The results show that the smell of stress increased the dogs' expectations that the new location would also be empty, just like before.
The researchers speculated that this could be a way for dogs to conserve energy and avoid frustration.
The team also found that the dogs were better able to recognize the presence or absence of food in two locations and were quicker to learn the difference when a stress odor was present.
This means that the mental health of pets may depend on the health of the owner.
