Cortisol could impact your dog's behavior

Environment Animals Pets Dogs Cortisol could impact your dog's behavior Just like in humans, stress and mood hormones might play a role in your pet's temperament. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. For dogs, good training and responsible ownership impact their behavior, but their life experiences and genetics can also affect temperament. Hormones may also play a role and could offer a new way to assess our canine companions. In a small study published today in the journal more well-behaved dogs generally had lower levels of cortisol--an important stress hormone--and higher levels of serotonin, a neurotransmitter associated with happiness.