How Dogs Can Smell When You're Stressed

Did you know that dogs can tell when you're stressed out? But how do they know? Turns out they can smell it! Join Hank for a new episode of SciShow and learn all about it!
Hosted by: Hank Green (he/him)

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[chumby]

A word of warning if you are choosing a dog for emotional support, or as a future psychiatric service dog! I am an Accredited Dog Trainer through the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, and I work with Service Dogs.

Certain breed groups, particularly Herding breeds, and other dogs selected for their attentiveness to humans, can mirror your stress. Just as long-term stress is damaging for human health, chronic stress is detrimental to some dogs' wellbeing. (Conversely, some breeds really couldn't give a crap whether you're having a bad day.)

Additionally, when raising puppies for this kind of work, the adolescent dog needs a secure attachment to their owner. Having a supportive, predictable relationship with their primary caregiver during this phase of development has a big effect on the dog's adult behavior. It's tough enough to raise a puppy for healthy people, let alone someone who is struggling with their health, be it physical or mental.

Please reach out to a certified trainer before you bring home a puppy if you are a first-time dog owner. It takes a village to raise a puppy!

Sources:
Asher, Lucy et al. “Teenage dogs? Evidence for adolescent-phase conflict behaviour and an association between attachment to humans and pubertal timing in the domestic dog.” Biology letters vol. 16, 5 (2020)

Höglin, A., Van Poucke, E., Katajamaa, R. et al. Long-term stress in dogs is related to the human–dog relationship and personality traits. Sci Rep 11, 8612 (2021)

[ivoryowl]

Gives a whole new meaning when they say "it can smell your fear."

[megandarlene]

That's why my pup is my shadow. He follows me everywhere at all times. My poor stressed out brain and body calls out to him.

[soybrujaja]

I got stressed just hearing the test they put the humans thru 😂

[robdiesel]

These findings make sense when you think about canine origins. Pursuit predators single out the old, weak, young prey from the herd. Being able to sniff out stressed prey prior to the attack or being noticed would aid in that.

[anxiety_disaster]

"There were four canine participants, named Treo, Winnie, Fingal, and Soot. The names weren't important to the study but I thought you should know because they're good dogs"

Yes. The most important part, because they are very good doggos indeed

[onbearfeet]

The dog study makes sense with my experience. My best friend has a corgi who sees me regularly and seems to consider me one of "her humans". I have PTSD, and can easily spike my stress just by thinking about one of my triggers. Every time I do that in the same room as the dog, I end up with a lapful of corgi within a minute or so. She won't leave until I calm down or someone orders her away. We joke about her being my self-appointed therapy dog.

I'd be interested to see if cats have a similar mechanism, too. My neighbor's cat (whom I cat-sit pretty regularly) has also consistently reacted to sudden changes in my stress level, either by sitting unusually close to me or, in one notable case, trying to threaten the stimulus that had triggered me. Unfortunately, it was a noise from next door, so he ended up trying to intimidate a wall, but it was still impressive. 😂

[StealAwayTheStars]

Thank you for telling us the dogs' names. They are important researchers that deserve credit for their work. 😄

[Celeste-in-Oz]

The take away for me was that clinical conditions actually designed to produce stress so closely match my early years of school… no wonder I have math phobia.

[surgicalninja]

My two dogs respond differently to my stress. One comes to me and clings, and the other avoids me. Lol

[stephanieaya]

A few days ago I was at the dentist’s office for an hour. They had a therapy dog, but I didn’t see her until they were about to give me some shots. A few seconds beforehand she came right over and laid her head on my lap, as if on cue.

[Benni]

I really do believe that the pandemic really changed my personality. Before, I was super extroverted, open, and I liked talking to people in general. Now, I don’t trust anyone, my health and social anxiety have skyrocketed, I’m more angry, more on-edge and more paranoid than before. I know these traits can just be that; traits. But I feel like my personhood itself has shifted from someone on the extroverted scale, then the ambivert scale in the start of the pandemic, then to completely introverted, and now, I’m trying to find an equilibrium. I also developed moderate tinnitus and TMJ issues bc of stress from the pandemic, so stress also just a part of my normal life, and I feel like a lot of people can relate to that.

[Mike]

I just quit retail and I worked full time throughout the entire pandemic. We did not close. And I can tell you that people forget how to deal with other people. People are less nice, don't pay attention or listen even when they ask a question, adults now don't look up from their phone in a conversation, are less patient, less agreeable, don't value others time

[tiffanymarie]

The "stench of a person who has just done a bunch of math" made me choke on my coffee

[infernas]

My eldest dog amazes me. I'm working from home, and whenever I sigh heavily or "tsk" when something frustrates me at work, he would approach me and comfort me. I find it so sweet and endearing. ❤️

[geekfreak]

Maybe this is similar with cats too... Salem and Willow both squish next to me more when I'm upset or having a panic attack. Salem especially has always known when I feel even a little stressed and will climb into my shoulder or sit on my lab and purr until I calm down. He didn't move from my side when I came home from the hospital after surgery either, and I slept for most of the day. There was a cat sized dent with loose fur on my pillow the whole week I was in recovery lol they're lovley little guys

[jablue]

Oh boy, here comes the "so that's why dogs love me" comments

[angelmorningstarr]

They know whenever your mood changes even mildly. I swear I just think about pineapples and my dog knows it and comes running. Yes, he lives fruit. He's a weird one lol

[obfuscatethecode]

Can anyone else smell stress sweat ? I can -it has a distinct smell. You can probably smell it on yourself but can you smell it on others?

[kemsat-nh]

Makes sense, a stressed animal is an easier meal usually. Factor in the whole predator evolution, and it makes total sense they’d find the smell “good;” stress just became linked to “easy meal.”