Why You Should Always Pet Your Dog Before Leaving the House: Research-Backed Benefits
Studies show that petting your dog before leaving helps them with their stress levels
One of the most remarkable aspects of having a dog is how deeply they bond with their owners. These animals are not called "the most loyal pets" and the "man's best friend" for no reason. They are incredibly playful and very happy creatures when they find a very good owner, and they miss them while they are gone.
That's why the question was raised: What can we do so they would not be miserable while we are gone?
A study published in Psychology Today found that dogs miss their owners more when separated for longer periods, as indicated by fMRI data. The research showed that dogs greeted their owners with more enthusiasm after two hours apart compared to just 30 minutes, but after four hours, there was no noticeable difference in their reactions. The data also revealed that during separation, dogs displayed negative emotions. Essentially, dogs begin missing their owners immediately, with the intensity increasing up to two hours, after which their feelings level off until they reunite.
What do scientists say?
Researchers from the Universities of Pisa and Perugia in Italy discovered that showing affection to your dog before leaving the house can help reduce their anxiety while you're gone. They conducted an experiment with 10 dogs, ranging from one to 11 years old, that didn't have attachment issues. The group included seven mixed-breed dogs, a Labrador retriever, a Hovawart, and a Chihuahua.
In the experiment, the dog owners took their leashed dogs into a fenced area, where a researcher greeted them and measured the dog's heart rate. During the first test, after entering the area, the owners chatted with a researcher for a minute and then left without giving their dogs any extra attention. In the second test, the owners petted their dogs while interacting with the researcher.
Love is the answer
In both tests, the owners left the area and moved far enough away that the dogs couldn't smell them. After the owners departed, the dogs searched for them for about three minutes on average. When the owners returned, the researchers measured the dogs' stress levels by checking their heart rate and cortisol levels.
The findings revealed that the dogs' cortisol levels remained unchanged regardless of whether they were petted or not. However, their heart rates decreased noticeably when the owners had petted them before leaving. Video analysis showed that the dogs who had been petted remained calm for a longer time while waiting for their owners' return.