Dog-touch study raises questions about later stress responses
International · Source publication:
Head & Paws article published: · Source checked: 2026-10-22
PsyPost revisits an Austrian laboratory study of 64 dog owners. Touching their own dog was linked to smaller physical responses during a later stress test, but did not speed immediate recovery. The later effect was exploratory and needs confirmation. It is not a treatment recommendation, and contact should suit the dog too.
The study was first published online on 18 August 2026 (Biological Psychology, DOI 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2026.109366). The date above is PsyPost’s coverage on 20 October, not the date of a new experiment.