Dogs can smell when we're stressed out, a new study shows

[SheltieLover]

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna49472

In an experiment, dogs were surprisingly accurate in detecting sweat and breath samples from people who were stressed.

It’s long been widely believed that dogs can detect extreme emotions by smell. Now scientists at Queen's University Belfast in the U.K. have proven that a dog's nose knows.

Acute stress changes the compounds found in human sweat and breath, research has shown. For the new experiment, four dogs were presented with sweat and breath samples collected from human volunteers — before and after the people engaged in a difficult math exercise.

More at link. Kudos to our puppers' amazing noses. Not surprising results, but an interesting study.

[wnylib]

1. In their pre human companion lives, this trait

helped them in hunting and in protecting themselves.

I suspect that many other animals can detect, through smell, visual signals, or sound, the emotional state of animals around them. Our own distant ancestors were probably better than we are today at such things, out of necessity.

But over the millennia, people and animals have learned to share our strengths and become useful to each other.

[SheltieLover]

4. I couldn't agree more!

[Lovie777]

2. DUH . ..

they are also sensitive to the paranormal.

[SheltieLover]

5. I'm convinced dogs and likely cats can see auras.

But that's just my take on things.

[wnylib]

9. OK, here's a true story. I will tell only

the facts as they occurred and let readers draw their own conclusions about whether it was coincidence or supernatural. This is the right time of year for such a story.

Back in the mid 1980s, long before the Internet, cell phones, and phone cameras, I went in search of my great grandmother's grave for genealogical reasons. She was buried in a family plot with her husband, sister, and parents. I wanted a photo of the graves to have a record of the names and dates.

I had seen the family plot once before but did not remember its exact location, only the general area. It was in a HUGE cemetery because it served the small village where it was located in northwestern PA, along with other villages and local farms.

I took a Kodak camera and my 6 month old solid black, long-haired kitten, Merlin. I let Merlin out of the car for exercise after the long drive to the cemetery and started walking down one row of graves. I checked on Merlin's whereabouts. He was about two rows down from me, swatting at high grass that grew up against the tombstones. It had not yet been trimmed after the lawn was mowed. The high grass swayed in the breeze, very tempting to a kitten.

After a few minutes, Merlin crouched down in a hunting/pouncing posture. There were several mole holes in the ground and I did not want him catching one so I went over to where he was to distract him.

As I approached, Merlin started circling the high grass around a tombstone where his mole prey was presumably hiding. It was a perfect photo opportunity - black cat slinking around a tombstone, so I snapped a pic of him as he went behind the stone and got ready to snap another one as he came out from behind it. The two photos would tell the story.

As I held up the camera to catch Merlin in the viewfinder, I noticed that the name on the stone was my great grandmother's. I got my pictures and carried Merlin back to the car.

Later, I told my uncle about the experience. This was his grandmother, Jennie, whom he knew well. He said, "Oh, Grandma Jennie would have loved knowing that a kitten played on her grave. She was a great cat lover and always had a few cats around her."

A very "spooky" coincidence.

[SheltieLover]

10. Great story!

[wnylib]

11. It was a pleasant, sunny day.

No "dark and stormy night" stuff, no spirits floating around. Just one of those weird coincidences when fact is stranger than fiction.

[SheltieLover]

12. Fact usually stranger than fiction. Lol

[I_UndergroundPanther]

3. I think my cat Othello

Sniffs out my moods,sugar levels ect.

He sniffs my breath often and if my blood sugar levels are off he nudges my fingers.
I guess he figured out I fix my sugar issues after a finger poke. If I fail to notice him nudging my fingers he has touched my face to get my attention.

I think he detects my moods too.

Othello seems anxious whenever my sugar levels are off. He follows me to my bedroom where I keep my meter to make sure I am on it.


He literally saved my life when I got diabeties and was not diagnosed yet.
Othello is my hero and best friend.

[SheltieLover]

6. Othello is such a handsome boy!

What a gorgeous picture of your best pal!

He sounds like quite an amazing kitty!

So great to see you posting again. Your pix and stories about Othello were sorely missed during your absence.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

13. Awww Sheltie❤️❤️❤️

[The Blue Flower]

7. When I had covid a few weeks ago my dog let me sleep in

Once I was over it, she was back to waking me up at 6 am for breakfast and pets. I adopted her from SPCA two years ago.

[SheltieLover]

8. Awwwww, what a sweetie she must be

Nice of her to let you rest when you needed it most!