Study reveals that dogs are able to SMELL stress in people

Dogs are known for their keen sense of smell, capable of detecting scents imperceptible to humans. Beyond tracking objects, locating people, or detecting illness, recent research has shown they can also identify stress in people.

A study conducted by scientists at Queen's University Belfast in Northern Ireland confirmed that dogs They are able to differentiate between body odors when a person is relaxed and when they are experiencing a stressful episode. For the study, participants performed tasks that generated mental stress, and sweat and breath samples were subsequently taken before and after the activity. The dogs, trained for this experiment, were able to accurately recognize which corresponded to a state of stress.

The finding supports what many owners already suspected: dogs perceive our emotions not only through body language or tone of voice, but also through chemical changes in the body. When a person is under stress, The body releases hormones such as cortisol, which alter the natural smell and become a detectable signal for the canine sense of smell.

This discovery has important applications. It could contribute to the training of assistance dogs for people with anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress, or emotional crises, as they could anticipate a stressful episode and provide immediate support. It also helps us better understand the special bond between humans and dogs, which goes beyond coexistence and is based on deep biological communication.