Canines perceive subtle changes in their owners’ breathing, gestures and body language. — AFP
The idea that work-related stress stays in the office offers a reassuring belief that our worries evaporate as soon as we cross the threshold of our home.
However, this boundary between professional and personal life is much more porous than we think, to the point of affecting our most faithful companions.
After a stormy meeting, an urgent job to finish or tension with a colleague, your dog may greet you as usual when you get home, but something might not feel right. Your pet may seem agitated, pace back and forth, and whine softly.
Too preoccupied with your work worries, you fail to make the connection: your stress has already contaminated your faithful companion.
This scene, experienced by millions of “dog parents,” illustrates the conclusions of a recent study conducted by researchers at Washington State University and published in Scientific Reports.
It shows that our dogs feel our work-related stress directly, especially when we struggle to mentally unplug from our preoccupations at work.
The researchers surveyed 85 working adults who owned dogs. Participants were asked to rate their level of work stress and their tendency to ruminate, and they were asked to rate their pet’s stress according to specific behavioural indicators.
The results showed that the dogs displayed behaviours indicative of anxiety when their owners brooded over their work problems.
However, the study reveals an important nuance. It’s not so much the high level of work-related stress that affects the animal, but rather this tendency to ruminate, to mentally transport work concerns into the privacy of the home.
When we carry our professional worries beyond office hours, we remain tense and distracted.
Body language, tone of voice and general behaviour betray this inner tension – signals that dogs pick up with remarkable acuity.
Emotional contagion
A dog’s ability to decode emotional states is explained by a scientifically recognised mechanism: emotional contagion. These four-legged companions are absolute masters in the art of deciphering non-verbal signals, which means they can literally “catch” their master’s emotions.
Dogs excel at reading facial expressions and picking up changes in tone and posture, which makes them highly attuned to their owners’ work stress.
This phenomenon goes far beyond simple observation.
The animal perceives subtle changes in breathing, gestures or body language, creating a surprising emotional synchronisation with its owner.
This extraordinary sensitivity explains why our pets sometimes seem to sense our moods before we are even conscious of them ourselves.
In light of this, the study authors suggest a number of ways of shielding animals from this emotional contagion. In particular, they recommend practicing mindfulness, through deep breathing exercises or meditation, to truly leave stress at the office.
Establishing end-of-day rituals, such as a short walk or a change of clothes, can also mentally signal that the working day is coming to an end.
The idea of spending quality time with your dog, by being fully present, without phones or distractions, is another key recommendation.
Monitoring your pet’s body language and maintaining a calm home environment also help to create a reassuring haven for the animal.
Finally, the researchers do not hesitate to suggest seeking professional help if stress becomes unmanageable.
In the end, this study reminds us of a fundamental truth.
Our dogs don’t know our jobs or our bosses’ demands, but they know perfectly well when we’re upset or distracted. In spite of themselves, our four-legged companions offer us a lesson in professional wisdom – the importance of leaving work at work. – AFP Relaxnews
