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Jyväskylä, Finland — A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Jyväskylä has found that the heart rate variability (HRV) of dogs and their owners syncs up during interactions, suggesting a deep physiological and emotional bond similar to that seen in human relationships. Published in Scientific Reports, the study explores how heart rate variability—a measure of the time variation between heartbeats that reflects autonomic nervous system activity—aligns between dog and owner, especially during restful moments, highlighting a unique connection across species.
In humans, a high heart rate variability is typically associated with relaxation and recovery, while low variability indicates stress or strain. This study demonstrated that a relaxed owner tends to have a relaxed dog, as evidenced by synchronized high HRV during resting periods. Similarly, when owners and their dogs engaged in activities such as playing, their physical activity levels also aligned, although this connection did not fully explain the HRV synchronization, suggesting the heart rate link may reflect shared emotional states rather than purely physical exertion.
“The interconnection in heart rate variability between the dog and its owner during resting periods may be explained by the fact that in those instances, there were no external tasks, but the counterparts could react more naturally to each other’s state,” explains doctoral researcher Aija Koskela.
The study also found that larger dogs generally had higher heart rate variability, potentially indicating greater relaxation or adaptability in these dogs. Interestingly, dogs whose owners displayed high negative affectivity—a personality trait involving a tendency toward concern and sensitivity to negative events—were more likely to have high heart rate variability, possibly due to an increased sense of security felt by the dogs. This connection between a dog’s temperament and its owner’s personality adds another layer to the understanding of how attachment might develop between pets and their humans.
One surprising finding was that the owner’s heart rate variability was influenced significantly by the dog’s HRV, even after accounting for factors like the owner’s body mass index and physical activity level. “We exceptionally investigated both a dog’s and its owner’s heart rate and activity level simultaneously, whereas previous studies have commonly focused either on the human’s or the dog’s perspective,” says study leader and Academy Research Fellow Miiamaaria Kujala. This dual focus allowed researchers to better assess the mutual influence of human-dog interactions.
The research involved 30 dog owners and their dogs, with a focus on breeds known for their strong cooperative instincts, such as sheepdogs and retrievers. These breeds, often selected for their sensitivity to human behavior and emotional cues, were found to be particularly responsive to their owners’ states, supporting previous studies that suggest cooperative breeds are more in tune with human emotions.
This study underscores the profound physiological synchronization that can occur between dogs and their owners, mirroring attachment mechanisms seen between human parents and children. Future research will delve further into the specific mechanisms that drive this unique interspecies bond, potentially expanding our understanding of emotional connection across species.
