This stress-in-scent research by the University of Bristol was published in Scientific Reports. The study was done by the research team of Ph. D. student Zoe Parr-Cortes, and the sample comprised 18 dogs of different breeds accompanied by their owners. They took sweat samples from volunteers who went through some stressful activities such as diction and counting exercises, and some calming exercises.
This research stated that stresses can be alarmingly smelled by dogs and this was affirmed by their emotional reactions. In the same case, while being exposed to the odor of stressed persons they showed a more pessimistic view by ignoring a bowl containing treats placed in an uncertain location. Such behavior leads to the conclusion that dogs show a down mood when they expect something negative, which has been earlier investigated.
Precisely, the study depicts the strong relationship between humans and dogs that has evolved for so many years of existence between the two species. Probably, this link facilitated early humans and their dog associates to warn each other of the dangers. Katherine A. Houpt of Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine suggested that the smell of stress may also decrease the dogs’ appetite, which has its bearing on their future choices and intent to eat.
In general, this research proves that dogs care for human beings based on smell as also provides the known characteristic of dogs about perceiving visual and oral signals. It also evokes highly interesting questions regarding the ability of the dogs to react to higher human stress levels, meta-stressors, and or stressful life events like relocation or natural disasters.