What is interesting is that it seems that as stress goes up to to a certain extent, tasks that rely on memory actually improve – the ability to learn improves. This study shows that guardian anxiety, which causes a degree of stress in their dog, has a positive affect on a dog’s ability to perform well on a memory-related task. This seems to oppose the evidence that stressed dogs are in no mental state to learn. That’s because it’s a question of degree of stress. In an article [link], Sara Reusche [of Paws Abilities Dog Training] describes the affects of extreme stress on dogs and learning: ‘Extreme stress can make learning difficult or even impossible, and can have seriously detrimental effects on the body. Alternatively, without some stress, growth and personal improvement is impossible. A wise trainer pays attention to his or her dog’s stress level and adjusts the environment, demands on the dog, and expectations appropriately’. An interesting perspective on stress levels in dogs, and how they feed off of human emotion. Read on...
Posted on: Sat, 29 Nov 2014 21:24:42 +0000
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