Dogs mirror stress levels of owners, researchers find

Scientists find higher cortisol levels in owners matched by raised levels in canine companions

If the dead-end job, the pokey flat and the endless failings of the neighbours are getting on your wick, then spare a thought for the dog.

In research that confirms what many owners will have worked out for themselves, scientists have found that the household pets are not oblivious to their owners' anxieties, but mirror the amount of stress they feel.