Dogs are helping people regulate stress even more than expected, research shows

New research published in The Conversation highlights just how powerful a dog’s presence can be in helping humans manage stress. While it has long been known that interacting with dogs can lower blood pressure and reduce anxiety, this study explores how dogs actually help regulate the nervous system during moments of distress.

Researchers found that:

• Dogs actively influence their humans’ autonomic nervous system, helping them recover from stress faster.
• The calming effect goes beyond physical presence. Mutual attunement between humans and their dogs plays a significant role.
• In both lab settings and real-life environments, simply having a dog nearby can increase emotional regulation and support mental wellbeing.

These findings reinforce the unique emotional bond between people and their pets and add new scientific weight to what pet lovers have long felt: dogs are not just companions; they are emotional anchors.