Cortisol is often described as a stress hormone, yet its role is broader and more nuanced. It helps the body respond to challenge, stay alert long enough to act, and then settle once the moment has passed. When that recovery phase becomes inconsistent, behaviour and wellbeing can shift in ways pet owners and guardians recognise immediately: restlessness, irritability, difficulty settling, and reduced capacity to learn.
Dogs live in the same environment we do, so their cortisol patterns can often echo the household’s rhythm. Research using salivary, blood, urinary and hair cortisol has shown that long-term stress levels in dogs can track those of their owners. A well-designed 2019 study by Sundman et al. found that dogs living with people experiencing persistent pressure had elevated hair cortisol concentrations, too. This alignment reflects shared environmental conditions rather than imitation, and it illustrates how closely dogs experience the worlds we build around them.
Cortisol rises for many reasons. Physical effort, excitement, abrupt noise, disrupted sleep and changes in routine all have measurable effects. The critical factor is recovery. Predictable structure and moments of control help the system reset. Even small opportunities for agency, choosing when to approach, pausing to sniff, settling in a preferred spot, support regulation and reduce physiological load.
Practical ways to support your dog’s regulation
The infographic (right) highlights three practical ways to build choice into everyday routines. These small adjustments help many dogs regulate more effectively, particularly during busy family periods or activity changes. Examples include providing a safe resting spot, ensuring your pet has quality, undisturbed rest, has a choice to approach and interact with another person or dog or not, etc.
These adjustments do not require complicated training plans. They simply provide clearer conditions for the body to settle, supporting calmer behaviour and more effective learning.
🧬 Learn more with my episode The Dopamine of Discovery. Click here to watch the Science of Connection playlist.
Reference
Sundman, AS., Van Poucke, E., Svensson Holm, AC. et al. Long-term stress levels are synchronized in dogs and their owners. Sci Rep 9, 7391 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-43851-x
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