Does Your Dog Feel Your Stress During Walks? Here’s What the Science Says

We’ve all heard people say, “your dog can sense your emotions.” And if you’ve ever had a rough day and found your pup extra cuddly, you probably agree. But can your dog actually feel your stress during a walk—one of their favorite daily activities?

A recent study published in Animal Cognition (Harvie et al., 2021) explored this question by examining whether stress transfers from dog owners to their pets during a typical walk. Researchers observed 68 dog-human pairs and measured both their heart rates and cortisol levels (a hormone linked to stress).

To create a mild sense of pressure, half the owners were told their walks would be judged by professional dog trainers. The rest were told their walks would only be filmed for documentation—nothing to stress about.

Surprising Results

Contrary to what many of us might expect, dogs didn’t seem to absorb their owners’ stress during the walk. In fact, there was a slight inverse correlation: when owners showed higher cortisol levels, their dogs actually had lower ones.

That may seem odd, but researchers suggested that some dogs could be adapting to their owner’s emotional state—staying focused or calm when their humans aren’t. This mirrors findings in working dogs, like bomb-sniffing dogs, who tend to perform better when their handlers are under pressure (Zubedat et al., 2014). It’s like some dogs instinctively step up when we need them most.

Your Personality and Your Dog’s Matter, Too

The study also revealed a few other intriguing connections. Dogs with more fearful personalities tended to have owners with higher heart rates—possibly because those owners were anticipating issues on the walk, like barking or lunging. Meanwhile, dogs owned by people who scored high in “Openness to Experience” had slightly elevated heart rates themselves, perhaps picking up on their human’s enthusiasm or unpredictability.

This tells us that while stress doesn’t necessarily “travel down the leash,” your personality—and your dog’s—still plays a role in shaping the walking experience.

So… Should You Walk Your Dog When You’re Stressed?

Yes! This study suggests that a stressful day won’t automatically translate into a stressful walk for your dog. In fact, the walk itself might help both of you decompress.

That said, how you walk matters, too. Staying calm and consistent, using tools that keep your hands free and your body relaxed, can make a big difference. A comfortable setup—like a hands-free leash system—can help reduce tension for both ends of the leash. The Buddy System Hands-Free Leash is a great example of a product that promotes freedom of movement and smoother communication during walks.

Takeaways

Even if your dog isn’t “soaking up” your stress on a walk, your energy still affects the experience. The more relaxed and present you are, the better the walk will feel for both of you. Getting to know your dog’s temperament, respecting their pace, and making walking feel like a shared adventure—not a chore—can go a long way.

So next time you’re feeling off, don’t skip the walk. It might be exactly what both of you need.

Reference:

Harvie, H., Rodrigo, A., Briggs, C., Thiessen, S., & Kelly, D. M. (2021). Does stress run through the leash? An examination of stress transmission between owners and dogs during a walk. Animal Cognition, 24, 239–250. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10071-020-01460-6