Petting dogs may not calm stress immediately, but it prepares the body for future challenges
A new study from the University of Innsbruck reveals that physical touch with dogs does not immediately reduce stress but acts as a buffer, lowering physiological responses to subsequent stressors. Published in Biological Psychology, the research found that petting dogs before a second stress test resulted in calmer heart rates and brain activity compared to non-contact interactions. While eye contact and verbal interaction did not provide the same protective effect, the findings suggest that tactile contact prepares the body to handle future challenges more calmly, highlighting touch as a key mechanism in human-animal bonding.