For many of us, dogs are woven into the fabric of daily life. As much as we may not say it out loud, they get us out of bed in the morning, pull us outdoors when we would rather stay inside, and sit beside us during some of our hardest moments.
During Mental Health Awareness Week, many conversations focus on therapy, medication, mindfulness, or exercise and these are incredibly valid approaches, but another area that deserves attention is the relationship between humans and animals, particularly dogs.
Before we start, it’s important to say that dogs should never replace appropriate professional support if you are struggling with your thoughts and feelings, but research (and our own experience) increasingly shows that the human-animal bond can influence stress physiology, emotional regulation, routine, movement, social connection, and even our nervous system activity. What this means is there is some really good data to back up what we at Naturaw see everyday within our community; that bond between dogs and their owners.
Dogs and the Stress Response
Despite what many say, stress is not inherently bad. The stress response is designed to protect us. It mobilises energy, sharpens attention, increases heart rate, and prepares the body to respond to challenges. Our tribes survived because there were some anxious people who would identify potential threats.
So, the problem is not usually stress itself, but chronic stress without adequate recovery. Researchers sometimes refer to this as allostatic load, which describes the build up of burden placed on the body and brain when demands regularly outweigh our ability to cope. Financial pressure, relationship challenges, grief, illness, work stress, poor sleep, social isolation, and uncertainty can all contribute to this load. What’s amazing is that dogs can influence this process in many ways.
One of the most interesting is co-regulation.
Humans are social beings, and our nervous systems constantly respond to those around us. Calm interactions, touch, eye contact, and social connection can all help regulate physiological stress responses. This appears to extend to our relationships with dogs too.
Studies have shown that interacting with dogs can lower heart rate and cortisol while increasing oxytocin, often referred to as the bonding hormone. Oxytocin is involved in attachment, trust, and feelings of safety. Interestingly, this rise in oxytocin occurs in both humans and dogs during positive interaction.
This may help explain why many owners instinctively seek physical closeness with their dog during periods of stress or emotional overwhelm. Stroking a dog, walking with them, or simply having them nearby may create a small but meaningful shift in nervous system state.
Researchers have even investigated “cute aggression”, the strange urge people sometimes feel to squeeze or excessively fuss over something adorable. Despite the name, it is not linked to actual aggression. Instead, it is thought to be the brain’s way of regulating intense positive emotions. The same attachment and reward systems involved in bonding and oxytocin release may help explain why we react so strongly to dogs in the first place.
Dogs Get Us Moving
Mental health and physical health are interconnected.
Regular movement is associated with reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression, improved sleep, better metabolic health, and improved stress resilience. Yet when people are struggling mentally, exercise is often one of the first things to disappear.
What’s great about dogs is that they create accountability. Whether it is raining, cold, or dark outside, most dogs still need walking (even if I do have to prise my whippets out from under their blanket).
This means that dog owners are then exposed to:
- More daily movement
- More daylight exposure
- More time in green space
- More consistent routines
Which all support mental wellbeing.
Exposure to natural environments has been associated with lower stress scores, improved mood, and better cognitive functioning. Walking also provides rhythmic bilateral movement, sensory stimulation, and a temporary shift away from screens and indoor environments.
For some people, a quiet walk with their dog may be the only point in the day where the nervous system truly downregulates.
There is an important point here though. Reactive dogs are challenging and for some, daily dog walks can be a source of increased stress. It’s really important to find professional support if your dog is struggling. Secure, enclosed fields can also be a great option for getting out with your dog without having the worry of other dogs or people.
Routine, Purpose and Behavioural Activation
One of the challenges in conditions such as depression is behavioural withdrawal. People often stop engaging in activities that previously supported wellbeing. Sleep routines deteriorate, meals become irregular, movement decreases, and social isolation increases.
Our dogs interrupt this pattern.
They still need feeding (but here at Naturaw we try to make that as easy as possible for dog owners). They still need walking. They still need interaction. No matter what.
That external responsibility can provide a degree of structure during periods where motivation is low. In psychology, behavioural activation is a recognised therapeutic approach that encourages engagement with meaningful activities even when we don’t feel motivated to do so.
There is also the issue of purpose. Caring for another living being can foster meaning, connection, and identity. Many owners describe their dog as the reason they got outside, kept moving, maintained routine, or continued engaging with life during difficult periods.
Dogs and Social Connection
Loneliness and social isolation are strongly associated with poorer mental and physical health outcomes. Our dogs often act as social bridges. Conversations on the street, training classes, cafés or simply whilst out walking can create low-pressure social interaction that may otherwise never occur.
Even beyond human interaction, companionship has value. The presence of a familiar animal can reduce perceived loneliness and increase feelings of emotional support.
The Relationship Goes Both Ways
Whilst dogs can support mental wellbeing, it is important to acknowledge that having a dog is not always stress-free.
Caring for an animal can be emotionally, physically, and financially demanding. Behavioural challenges, chronic illness, end-of-life care, and grief can place enormous strain on owners. Many of us recognise the emotional weight that comes with loving our dogs.
That co-regulation goes both ways. Dogs can mirror human stress. Research has demonstrated synchronisation of stress hormones between owners and their dogs. It seems our emotional states influence them, just as theirs influence us which is why owner wellbeing is so important.
Looking After Yourself
One of the most overlooked aspects of having a dog is the importance of caring for the human at the other end of the lead.
Mental health is influenced by many overlapping factors, including:
- sleep quality
- movement
- nutrition
- stress load
- social support
- exposure to nature
- nervous system regulation
Dog owners may walk more, spend more time outdoors, maintain more regular routines, and experience greater day-to-day social interaction. But we still need to support the basics ourselves.
Eating nutrient-dense foods, prioritising sleep, maintaining social connection, and managing chronic stress remain essential. Mental health is rarely determined by one single factor. It is usually the cumulative effect of many small inputs over time.
The relationship between humans and dogs is truly incredible. What began thousands of years ago as a mutually beneficial relationship has evolved into one of the closest interspecies bonds we know of. Dogs offer companionship, predictability, physical touch, movement, routine, and connection. Within our Naturaw community, we see this daily.
For Mental Health Awareness Week, perhaps it is worth recognising that sometimes support does not always arrive in the form we expect. Sometimes it arrives carrying a lead in its mouth, waiting for a walk.
Lisa Hannaby-Aird
A Registered Associate Nutritionist who specialises in translating nutrition science into practical, everyday guidance for dog owners, drawing on her training in nutrition alongside a background in psychology, biochemistry, and neuroscience.
