Dogs and Owners Share Emotional Sync, Study Shows

New research published in Scientific Reports by Koskela et al. (2024) confirms that dogs and their owners can become emotionally and physiologically synchronized. Using a pseudorandomized cross-over design, the team measured heart rate variability (HRV) and physical activity of 29 co-operative breed dogs and their human companions during various interaction tasks.

These tasks included Stroking, Playing, Sniffing, and Training, alongside pre- and post-activity resting baselines. While HRV correlation was highest during unstructured rest phases, activity synchronization peaked during structured bonding activities like stroking and play. This demonstrates that both resting states and active engagement shape the physiological connection between dogs and owners.

Dog HRV was the most consistent predictor of owner HRV, while factors such as dog height, duration of ownership, owner negative affectivity, and the quality of interaction significantly predicted dog HRV. These findings support the idea that dog–owner dyads experience co-modulation of physiology and behavior—a biological signature of social bonding similar to that seen in human-human attachments.

This study adds to the growing body of evidence showing that the human–dog relationship goes beyond training and behavior, and involves mutual emotional regulation influenced by the characteristics of both partners and the quality of their interactions.