Long-term stress levels are synchronized in dogs and their owners

[skinnydipper]

Conclusion:

Our results show that long-term stress hormone levels were synchronized between dogs and humans, two different species sharing everyday life. This could not be explained by either physical activity or by the amount of training. Since the personality of the owners was significantly related to the HCC of their dogs, we suggest that it is the dogs that mirror the stress levels of their owners rather than the owners responding to the stress in their dogs. To our knowledge, this is the first study to show interspecies synchronization of long-term stress.

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-43851-x

 

[CorvusCorax]

No surprise, seen it myself loads of times (even in my own house lol). Very interesting!

 

[skinnydipper]

I found this when this when I was looking at dogs detecting human cortisol:

"This 18-month Rhodesian Ridgeback is the first cortisol-sniffing dog on staff at a school. Cortisol is known as the “stress hormone,” and people on the Autism spectrum tend to have higher levels of cortisol in their blood."

https://dogtime.com/dog-health/general/20632-meet-cali-the-first-cortisol-sniffing-dog-on-staff-at-school#:~:text=However, at The Calais School,of cortisol in their blood.

and University of Bristol Veterinary School have a project:

How do dogs respond to changes in cortisol levels in conspecifics and humans?

"This project aims to understand whether and how dogs detect changes in cortisol levels in dogs and humans. This phenomenon may have evolved because of the selective advantage an animal has, if it can avoid danger detected by other animals, in addition to its own perception. However, this ability has potential welfare and training implications - charities have started to train dogs to alert patients living with Addison’s disease, a condition resulting in low cortisol levels, to the onset of an adrenal crisis.

Working with a world-leading charity, this project will take a multidisciplinary approach to quantify the performance of Addison alert dogs and assess the emotional contagion effect(s) of conspecific and interspecific stress. Using sweat samples we will assess sensitivity and specificity of response and use mass-spectrometry to identify critical compounds that trigger alerting behaviour. Using tests of trainability and affective state, developed and validated at University of Bristol, we will also explore the effect of presenting naive dogs with urine samples from humans and dogs collected at times of naturally occurring stress.

The project therefore has the potential to improve understanding of emotional contagion and signaling and the welfare and working ability of dogs."

 

[CorvusCorax]

I'd hate for these studies to have any punitive consequences though...agility/flyball line ups and assistance settings (schools/hospitals with slippery floors and harsh lighting) are known to raise cortisol levels in dogs, they get through/over it and cope.
Stress is something all animals have to live with and go through, who decides what is 'good' stress and 'bad' stress?

 

[skinnydipper]

There is a difference between eustress and distress.

Genuine question, CC. What category would you put agility/flyball in?

 

[ycbm]

A vet refused to put down my mother's poodle 20 years ago. He said she was causing its colitis and he could rehome it and it would be fine. He was almost certainly right, but she found another vet to do it. I guess there are vets who have realised this for some time but it's good to see it proved.
.

 

[skinnydipper]

assistance settings (schools/hospitals with slippery floors and harsh lighting) are known to raise cortisol levels in dogs, they get through/over it and cope.

With counter conditioning or habituation

who decides what is 'good' stress and 'bad' stress?

The dog?

 

[CorvusCorax]

There is a difference between eustress and distress.

Genuine question, CC. What category would you put agility/flyball in?

I guess it depends on the dog.
Some (not I) would argue that we don't 'have' to put dogs through these things in the first place.
I know an person with a rescue collie that has a real problem with indoor venues but they intend to push on through.
It wouldn't even go and stand on/in a cardboard box outside and I found myself wondering what the point was.

In my own sport there are dogs which are gun shy/don't cope well with pressure and people just train over the top of it. That for me is putting human wants and needs before the dog and isn't good ethically or for the future.
It's also not good for the gene pool to breed from animals with genetic environmental sensitivities that have been well trained.

I personally prefer to pick a horse for the course (a dog that is naturally more resilient/deals with stress better).

 

[CorvusCorax]

With counter conditioning or habituation

Or drive carries them through. The desire for food/toy/praise overrides the stress. Which is why a lot of dogs will execute a behaviour we find undesirable despite understanding that there may be a negative consequence.

 

[PapaverFollis]

My poor dogs. ?

 

[CorvusCorax]

My poor dogs. ?

Mine need a citation for putting up with me ???

 

[CorvusCorax]

The dog?

I suppose. That's why some dogs don't shut down or run away in stressful situations (it's worth it) and some do (it's not) without too much intervention.

Just as an aside, last night was like Fallujah where I live. Puppy at first did not want to go outside to toilet, I had to encourage her out and shut the door behind her. Stood in the garden with her and she eventually went.
Second toilet break she jusy toddled out and did her business and ignored the kefuffle. I don't think I did much in the way of counter conditioning nor has she had much experience of fireworks.
She's just typical of her breeding. There's an initial 'WTF is that' with something new, and once she's shown there is nothing to worry about, she gets on with things.

 

[SAujla]

I suppose. That's why some dogs don't shut down or run away in stressful situations (it's worth it) and some do (it's not) without too much intervention.

Just as an aside, last night was like Fallujah where I live. Puppy at first did not want to go outside to toilet, I had to encourage her out and shut the door behind her. Stood in the garden with her and she eventually went.
Second toilet break she jusy toddled out and did her business and ignored the kefuffle. I don't think I did much in the way of counter conditioning nor has she had much experience of fireworks.
She's just typical of her breeding. There's an initial 'WTF is that' with something new, and once she's shown there is nothing to worry about, she gets on with things.

Do you have a plan for new years eve fireworks, if she's okay with them now she should be then as well? Asking out of interest for my pup and her first new years eve. It's the thought of fireworks at midnight when she's fast asleep usually

 

[skinnydipper]

She's just typical of her breeding.

^This^

There are many GSDs who have been bred with no thought to genetics, natural resilience and confidence.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

My poor dogs. ?

I think that some dogs are naturally more laid back than others, within their own breed, so it is more than possible that your own dogs are well able to cope with your stress levels without becoming over-stressed themselves.
We have had a lot of Labs, many of whom were closely related to one or more other dogs in the 'pack', there have been noticeable differences in their personalities and reactions to stress. We had 2 Rottweiler litter sisters (still have one of them, other had to be pts aged 6), one was a very relaxed character, the other is a fabulous dog but much more reactive to outside stimuli such as noise/visitors/perceived danger. We are a very relaxed household, in general, so she thrives with us.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Do you have a plan for new years eve fireworks, if she's okay with them now she should be then as well? Asking out of interest for my pup and her first new years eve. It's the thought of fireworks at midnight when she's fast asleep usually

She will probably sleep through the noise. The dogs whose owners make a fuss are the ones that are most likely to learn to be worried. You could get her used to having a radio left on if you have noticed her reacting to random fireworks like the ones we are getting currently.

 

[CorvusCorax]

SA I don't think it'll be a problem unless she has a wobble during the second fear period. I walk her father under fireworks (not on purpose, there's just no other option where I live)/at airshows/through parades etc and they all have to be neutral to a blank firing pistol.
The most he'll do is prick his ears or flag his tail. He carries a toy all the time out and about so can take any stress out on that, socially.
Middle dog is a bit more reactive but it's more of an 'outrage bark'.
If it's a problem for your own pup suggest a small dark crate and a Kong or bone for the evening, loud telly or background music. You can also use CDs to desensitise her but obviously the accoustics of the real thing are much different.

^This^

There are many GSDs who have been bred with no thought to genetics, natural resilience and confidence.

I know and it makes me really sad

 

[CorvusCorax]

I think that some dogs are naturally more laid back than others, within their own breed, so it is more than possible that your own dogs are well able to cope with your stress levels without becoming over-stressed themselves.
We have had a lot of Labs, many of whom were closely related to one or more other dogs in the 'pack', there have been noticeable differences in their personalities and reactions to stress. We had 2 Rottweiler litter sisters (still have one of them, other had to be pts aged 6), one was a very relaxed character, the other is a fabulous dog but much more reactive to outside stimuli such as noise/visitors/perceived danger. We are a very relaxed household, in general, so she thrives with us.

My middle one has been with me for two and a half of his eight years and has definitely got a bit more 'fizzy' with me. As I've said before it's like I have the canine equivalent of an electric arse.
Hit me up for drive building lessons, guys ?

 

[SAujla]

SA I don't think it'll be a problem unless she has a wobble during the second fear period. I walk her father under fireworks (not on purpose, there's just no other option where I live)/at airshows/through parades etc and they all have to be neutral to a blank firing pistol.
The most he'll do is prick his ears or flag his tail. He carries a toy all the time out and about so can take any stress out on that, socially.
Middle dog is a bit more reactive but it's more of an 'outrage bark'.
If it's a problem for your own pup suggest a small dark crate and a Kong or bone for the evening, loud telly or background music. You can also use CDs to desensitise her but obviously the accoustics of the real thing are much different.



I know and it makes me really sad

Through

She will probably sleep through the noise. The dogs whose owners make a fuss are the ones that are most likely to learn to be worried. You could get her used to having a radio left on if you have noticed her reacting to random fireworks like the ones we are getting currently.

At the moment I've been very lucky in that she hasn't reacted at all to the fireworks, she's been sleeping though them and the thunder. When the fireworks were going off during Veterans Day earlier this year I did take her out in my arms (didn't have her second vaccinations done at the time) and she was fine then. There were a lot of fireworks going off on our walk this evening, I think people are trying to get it all in now before second lockdown and she didn't show any reaction then. Reading some of the articles posted by skinnydipper I'm paying even more attention to my own body language. The only thing that will be different is that at midnight she will be alone in a pitch black room and is normally fast asleep by 11pm, she does have a crate cover which I normally leave up at the front but could bring it down. I think I will treat it like any other night but stay awake myself until 1am just to be safe? I never really noticed her having her first fear period and she's not through adolescence yet so her second fear period is still to come.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

If she doesn't normally react to the noise it is unlikely that she will do on NYE, it's not a special night for her.