A new study has revealed that our canine companions can detect when their human is stressed. The research examined participants’ heart rate and blood pressure as they completed complex arithmetic questions. Samples of participants’ breath and sweat were taken before and after the exam. Dogs sniffed both samples afterwards, and were able to correctly identify the stress scent 93.8% of the time. The incredible results are likely because dogs have over 4x as many olfactory receptors as humans. The findings may explain why your pup is extra affectionate when they pick up on your stress, and will be useful in training service dogs who deal with mental health conditions.
Image via Clara Wilson
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