Working dogs sometimes perform their duties in challenging situations. Their performance in such contexts is dependent on both their extensive training and the close relationship between the dog and handler. This relationship between dogs and humans is the end product of thousands of years of domestication which has given dogs the ability to accurately interpret human behavior and emotion. However, recent research suggests that this sensitivity to human states may also, in some contexts, negatively affect working dog performance.
In 2019, researchers at Linköping University, Sweden, demonstrated the long-term synchronization of stress levels between dogs and their owners. During their study, hair from dogs and their owners was tested and compared for the stress hormone, cortisol. The results revealed a relationship between the cortisol levels of dogs and their owners, as well as the influence of owner personality traits, from which the scientists concluded that the dogs had mirrored their owners’ stress levels.
This finding is important since many working dogs either live with or spend significant amounts of time with their handlers/partners, making it possible for dogs to mirror their level of stress. Stress in dogs is associated with a range of behavioral and physiological changes that can negatively impact their working ability, including reduced focus, restlessness, and gastrointestinal problems.
There is also growing evidence that elevated cortisol levels can also impair dogs’ cognitive functions and learning abilities. A recent study from Dalhousie University, Canada, showed that the odor of a stressed unknown person impacted the dogs’ responses in a series of cognitive bias tasks. The results showed that dogs were more likely to interpret ambiguous cues pessimistically if the odor was from a stressed person, compared to when it was not.
These findings suggest that the dogs in the experiment mirrored the negative emotional state of the stressed person, which then impaired the dog’s decision-making abilities. The findings of this experiment have clear implications for the performance of working dogs in scenarios such as search-and-rescue and law enforcement, where emotions can run high.
Recent years have seen a rapid growth in the use of service dogs to help regulate the socioemotional responses of vulnerable populations. This has led to an increase in situations where dogs are likely to be exposed to higher levels of expressed negative human emotions. For example, research has shown that psychiatric assistance dogs can provide strong mental and social support to military veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
A recent study went even further, revealing that dogs are able to detect the volatile organic compounds of people with histories of trauma. However, considering dogs’ ability to not only detect the volatile organic compounds associated with human stress, but also to mirror the effects, further research is needed to investigate the effects of human emotions on service dogs’ performance and welfare.
Managing the Effects of Stress on Working Dogs
To reduce the detrimental short- and long-term effects of stress on working dogs, it is important that they learn to manage stress at an early age, through proper socialization. Early exposure to a range of environments and situations can help puppies develop resilience, allowing them to adapt to the demands of challenging situations more easily as adults.
Good socialization not only introduces dogs to a wide range of sensory inputs, but also allows them to develop effective emotional regulation. Effective protocols involve gradually exposing puppies to various sights, sounds, smells, textures, objects and interactions in a controlled manner, to help them navigate stressful situations in the future without becoming overwhelmed.
As well as monitoring stress in dogs, it is also important for the people around them. Handlers should be encouraged to recognize the feelings of stress in their own bodies, including muscle tension and irritability. Wearable devices which capture health insights such as heart rate and sleep quality may be helpful, although dog-focused devices are currently less accurate.
Steps should be taken to prepare handlers and their dogs for high-pressure environments using scenario-based training exercises to build confidence and resilience in these situations. As well as integrating regular breaks for their dogs, handlers could also consider using this time to regulate their own emotions, via relaxation exercises or meditation, to support their dogs’ performance and welfare.
The close relationship between working dogs and their handlers is essential for effective performance, sometimes in challenging situations. However, it is this ability to understand our behavior and emotions which makes them susceptible to human stress. Stress in dogs is associated with an array of behavioral and cognitive changes which can impair their performance and decision-making abilities. For this reason, it is important to consider how human stress can affect working dog performance and take steps to minimize the impact.
Article by Dr. Carla J Hart: https://linktr.ee/carlajadehart
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References
- Long-term stress levels are synchronized in dogs and their owners
- The odour of an unfamiliar stressed or relaxed person affects dogs’ responses to a cognitive bias test
- Assistance dogs for military veterans with PTSD: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and meta-synthesis
- Can scent-detection dogs detect the stress associated with trauma cue exposure in people with trauma histories? A proof-of-concept study