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Owner stress may influence dog stress levels, study finds
The study found that changes in the owner's heart rate predicted changes in their dog's heart rate.
Vet practices could use findings to help improve welfare, researchers say. 

Researchers at Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) are calling for veterinary practices to be more aware of owner stress after new research showed that it was linked to dog stress levels.

The study, led by veterinary surgeon Aoife Byrne, involved 28 dog owners and their pets. The participants were divided equally into two groups, one of which saw the owners take part in a stressful digital test, while in the other, the owners took part in a relaxing guided meditation.

During the activities, the owners’ heart rates were monitored to assess their stress levels. At the same time, the dogs’ heart rates were monitored to trace any correlation. Heart rate variability was also recorded and the owners completed a short questionnaire about their feelings of anxiety.

The researchers found that changes in the owner’s heart rate predicted changes in their dog’s heart rate, suggesting that the dogs were responding to how their owners were feeling.

They also found that the dogs’ heart rates generally decreased as the experiment went on and they got used to the new environment they were in.

Gareth Arnott, reader in animal behaviour and welfare at QUB, said: “The results of this research indicate that dogs may have the ability to display emotional contagion, which is the mirroring of emotion, and social referencing, e.g. looking for cues to inform their reaction to a situation, towards their owners in novel settings.”

Dr Byrne added: “This research also underlines the importance of incorporating methods to mitigate owner stress in veterinary settings, as this has the potential to also reduce the stress experienced by their dogs.

“The impact of veterinary professionals implementing the results of this research in their practices may improve the welfare of both dog owners, and their dogs.”

The study has been published in the journal Applied Animal Behaviour Science.

Image © Shutterstock

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Practices urged to audit neutering data

News Story 1
 RCVS Knowledge has called on vet practices to audit their post-operative neutering outcomes.

It follows the release of the 2024 NASAN benchmarking report, which collates data from neutering procedures performed on dogs, cats and rabbits.

The benchmarking report enables practices in the UK and Ireland to compare their post-operative outcomes to the national average. This includes the rate of patients lost to follow-up, which in 2024 increased to 23 per cent.

Anyone from the practice can submit the data using a free template. The deadline for next report is February 2026.

Visit the RCVS Knowledge website to complete an audit. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS pays tribute to well-loved equine vet

The RCVS and the Riding Establishments Subcommittee has paid tribute to well-loved veterinary surgeon and riding establishment inspector, Rebecca Hamilton-Fletcher MRCVS.

Linda Belton MRCVS, RCVS President, said: "I, along with my colleagues on the RESC, RCVS Council, RCVS Standards Committee, as well as RCVS staff, was very saddened to hear of the sudden death of Rebecca, or Becca as we knew her, last week.

"She was a true advocate for equine welfare and in her many years on the RESC worked to continually improve the quality and consistency of riding establishment inspections, all in the interests of enhanced horse welfare and rider safety."