Study Explores Effects of Physically Interacting With Dogs on Stress

Researchers at the University of Innsbruck conducted a study exploring how physical contact between dogs and their owners affects stress levels. Dog owners who engaged in touching their pets after a stressful event showed decreased stress during subsequent challenges.

Interaction as a Signal of Safety

Dr. Monica Berntsen, a consultant psychologist and neuropsychologist not involved in the study, explained to Newsweek that interacting with a familiar dog might signal safety to the nervous system. She stated that stroking a familiar dog communicates safety to the body rather than through cognition.

“Human brains continuously ask, ‘Am I safe?’ A familiar dog, through slow, rhythmic touch and warmth, tells the nervous system to relax,” she said.

The study, published in Biological Psychology, involved 64 dog owners, consisting of 51 women and 13 men with an average age of 34. Participants included their own dogs aged at least 2 years, which were healthy and comfortable in unfamiliar environments.

Stress Experiment Details

Researchers subjected participants to two stressful tasks: a timed general knowledge quiz and a mental math test. During the quiz, they had only five seconds to answer each question. For the math task, participants counted backward under pressure while following a blinking red dot, without slowing down. A researcher monitored them via video calls, providing negative feedback.

Participants underwent two distinct test blocks. In one block, participants had the freedom to physically touch their dogs, including stroking, petting, or holding. In the other block, dogs remained nearby on a leash, visible and audible, but untouchable.

Researchers tracked brain activity using brain recordings and electrocardiograms (ECG), alongside participant self-reports at key intervals.

Study Findings and Physiological Effects

The initial goal was to assess whether petting a dog hastens recovery from stress. The study did not show immediate recovery benefits. Notable differences appeared in the second task. Participants who interacted physically with their dogs during the break displayed less biological stress during the second challenge.

Berntsen linked the effect to gentle touch’s physiological influence, activating the parasympathetic system and increasing oxytocin, which can lower heart rate and cortisol response.

“A brain assured ‘you’re safe’ begins the next stressful task from a lower baseline,” Berntsen said.

Those with physical contact maintained higher alpha-wave activity, indicating reduced brain activation. Participants who did not touch their dogs showed no similar effect.

Berntsen emphasized the role of a dog’s familiarity, stating that a familiar dog sends faster and deeper calming signals.

Considerations and Broader Implications

The study revealed that emotions reported did not always mirror biological responses. Participants’ stated stress levels often differed from heart rate and brain activity data.

The findings suggest that physical contact with dogs influences future stress responses rather than speeding recovery from past stress. Berntsen warned against viewing petting dogs as anxiety treatment due to the study’s small and short-term nature.

“Regular calm moments might lower your stress baseline over time, but this isn’t an anxiety treatment, though it’s a pleasant way to prepare for a hard day,” she said.

Reference: Vanessa Kaufmann et al., Pet-induced stress buffering depends on touch: Evidence from brain and cardiac measures, Biological Psychology (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2026.109366

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