IT’S OFFICIAL! HAVANESE BEST breed to REDUCE ANXIETY, etc.

The Kennel Club, founded in 1873 in Britain (a precursor to America’s AKC) conducted a stress-buster study to examine which dog breed, if any, excelled at helping their human companions measurably decompress and relax.

​The study examined the physical levels of heart rate, blood pressure, and cognitive skill of the subjects prior to and after playing with puppies from specific dog breeds. Among the human subjects, four were drawn from different and particularly stressful vocations.
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ORIGINALLY WRITTEN 05.07.2020

IMAGE COURTESY OF THE KENNEL CLUB

The first-ever stress level clinic was held in Hackey, London. The London professionals consisted of a Metropolitan police officer, a midwife, and two insurance agents. Their heart rates, cognitive thinking levels, and blood pressure were measured before and after interacting with the puppies.

The breeds of the four-month-old puppies in the study were:

• Cocker Spaniel
• Golden Retriever
• Eurasier 
• Chihuahua
• Havanese

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The experiment:
The human participants were given a timed crossword puzzle to solve before and after interacting with the puppies. Stress levels were monitored and measured by Sophie Hall, a Psychologist from the University of Lincoln. Existing studies well document the calming effects of petting and owning a dog.

Conclusion:
The Kennel Club study results re-confirmed in general, measurable calming effects and clearer thinking after interacting with any puppy. This study also measured, illustrated, and confirmed interaction specifically with a Havanese puppy. Havanese-based interactions resulted in a greater decrease in stress levels and a higher level of cognitive skills than the other puppies' results. One participant remarked, “I couldn’t believe what [a] positive impact spending time with the puppy had on me. It completely takes your mind off anything else that’s going on.” Which, of course, we knew! 
 
References:
Chihuahua Dog Breed Information - American Kennel Club. https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/chihuahua/.

Cocker Spaniel Dog Breed Information - American Kennel Club. https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/cocker-spaniel/.

Cocker Spaniel Dog Breed Information - American Kennel Club. https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/cocker-spaniel/.

Eurasier Dog Breed Information - American Kennel Club. https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/eurasier/.

Golden Retriever Dog Breed Information - American Kennel Club. https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/golden-retriever/.

Havanese Dog Breed Information - American Kennel Club. https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/havanese/.

“History of the Kennel Club.” The Kennel Club, https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/about-us/about-the-kennel-club/history-of-the-kennel-club/.

Laing, Lucy. “Havanese Is Best Dog for Reducing Stress.” Daily Mail Online, Associated Newspapers, 20 Oct. 2017, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-4998614/Havanese-best-dog-reducing-stress.html. ​​