A new study has revealed that just 15 minutes of playtime with a dog can significantly reduce stress, lower heart rates, and decrease cortisol levels.
According to the new research from Chiang Mai University in Thailand, published in the journal PLOS One, found that university students who interacted with a dog experienced a noticeable reduction in stress.
Remarkably, the study also found that the dogs benefited as well, with lower cortisol levels detected in their feces a week after the interaction.
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“Even brief interactions with dogs can significantly reduce stress levels among university undergraduate students,” said the research team led by senior investigator Jaruwan Khonmee.
For the study, researchers recruited six friendly dogs—five chihuahuas and one Shetland sheepdog—all between the ages of three and six. None of the dogs had prior experience in therapy work, making this their first time participating in a canine-assisted intervention without their owners present.
A total of 122 students at Chiang Mai University took part in the experiment. Before meeting the dogs, they completed a stress assessment questionnaire, had their blood pressure and pulse recorded, and provided saliva samples for cortisol testing.
Each student then spent 15 minutes interacting with a dog, engaging in activities such as petting, hugging, playing, or simply observing. Afterward, they underwent the same stress assessments to measure any changes.
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Noticeable Improvements for Both Humans and Dogs
The results were clear: students reported a 33.5% decrease in self-perceived stress after just one session with a dog.
Their pulse rates and cortisol levels also showed improvement, supporting the claim that even a short period of canine companionship can have meaningful health benefits.
Interestingly, while no immediate changes were observed in the dogs’ salivary cortisol levels on the day of interaction, researchers found a significant drop in their fecal cortisol levels one week later. This suggests that dogs, too, experience long-term stress relief from bonding with humans.
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Expanding Access to Canine Comfort
The findings reinforce what many dog owners already felt they knew – that human-animal interactions can help with stress management, especially in high-pressure environments like universities.
“Overall, these findings contribute to our understanding of the beneficial impact of human-dog interactions on human stress levels and highlight the importance of addressing stress in both humans and animals during targeted interventions,” the researchers concluded.
With mental health concerns on the rise, particularly among students, this study underscores the value of accessible, natural solutions—sometimes, all it takes is a wagging tail and a few moments of companionship to brighten a stressful day.
