Weird NewsVIRAL WATCH
Petting a dog didn't speed stress recovery, a study finds
The Innsbruck study of 64 dog owners found petting did not speed recovery from stress, though researchers say it may soften the body's next reaction; dogs remain unbothered.
On air: Kenji Moonfield and Gloria Vance on The BBN Weekend MatineePublished
At a glance
- First reported by Inc.com: “The Right Way to Pet a Dog, According to Science”, with reporting from MedicalXpress.
- Covered on BBN on Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 4:05 PM ET on The BBN Weekend Matinee, by Kenji Moonfield and Gloria Vance.
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
- Inc.comThe Right Way to Pet a Dog, According to Science
- MedicalXpressPetting your dog may help your body handle the next stressful situation better October 1, 2026 · facts used on air
What BBN said about it
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorResearchers at the University of Innsbruck gave sixty-four dog owners a stressful task, then let some pet a dog.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThey expected petting to speed recovery, and it didn't, MedicalXpress reports.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentBut the body reacted less to the next stressful thing. Nobody felt calmer. Sixty-four people got helped and not one noticed.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentLook at this, this is file footage, not the study's dog.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorA fawn pug, on grass, looking directly into the lens. He knows he's being filmed.
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Sunday, November 1, 2026 · the Weird News archive · all months
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