2 minute read
Study Confirms Dogs Can Tell When We Are Feeling Down
by Happiful
Research shows that our canine companions know when we need comforting, and will try to come to our aid
It’s something that many dog owners already know to be true, but research published in the journal Learning and Behaviour has confirmed that dogs are able to identify when their owners are upset, and will instinctively try to comfort them in their time of distress. In the study, dogs and their owners were put on either side of a clear door held shut with magnets. The owners were asked to either hum ‘Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star’, or cry. Inspiration for the experiment came when co-author Julia Meyers-Mano, assistant professor of psychology at Ripon College, Wisconsin, was playing with her children. They buried her under pillows and, in play, she called for help. “My husband didn’t come rescue me, but, within seconds, my collie had dug me out of the pillows,” Julia told EurekAlert. “I knew that we had to do a study to test that more formally.”
The study included dogs of various breeds and sizes, including golden retrievers, pugs and labradors, with researchers noting that dogs who opened the door did so three times faster when their owners were crying than those who had been humming. In addition, the dogs’ stress levels were measured, revealing that those who opened the door showed less stress, meaning they were upset by the crying but still took action, whereas those who did not open the door showed the most stress, suggesting they were too upset by their owner’s crying to do anything. “Dogs have been by the side of humans for tens of thousands of years and they’ve learned to read our social cues,” says Emily Sanford, lead author of the study. “Dog owners can tell their dogs sense their feelings. Our findings reinforce that idea, and show that, like Lassie, dogs who know their people are in trouble might spring into action.”
A study, commissioned by Freshpet, surveyed more than 2,000 pet owners and found three in 10 people say their pet is a better listener than their partner, and 44% prefer to cuddle their furry friends. In addition, 54% say their pet is their best friend and, when it comes to choosing who they would rather spend the rest of their life with, 14% would choose their pets. While Hannah Edwards from Freshpet admits the results are surprising, she told the Independent: “What they actually demonstrate is just how much us Brits love our pets and why they’re such an important part of our families.”
