It is proven that dogs and their owners can experience the same emotions and stress levels, especially during highly stressful or exciting activities such as competitions or police work. A new study suggests dogs may be highly sensitive to our stress.
Source: NPR Shots, June 6, 2019. Link. “It was the owner’s personality that influenced the dog’s hair cortisol level, rather than the dog’s personality itself,” Roth says. The correlation was stronger between dogs and owners who compete together than it was between owners and dogs who don’t.
INSIGHTS: Both researchers caution that dog owners should not read the new research results and worry that their personalities are harming their animals.