People aren’t the only ones who perform better on tests or athletic events when they are just a little bit nervous—dogs do too. But in dogs as in people, the right amount of stress depends on disposition.
A new study finds that a little extra stress and stimulation gives mellow dogs an edge—but makes hyper dogs crack under the pressure.
An idea in psychology called the Yerkes-Dodson law says a little stress can be a good thing, but only up to a point. A task that isn’t demanding or challenging enough can make it hard to stay engaged and perform at one’s peak. But when the pressure becomes too much to handle, performance is likely to suffer again.
Goldilocks Model
The idea is the relationship between stress and performance follows a Goldilocks model: Both people and animals function best when the level of stress is not too much, nor too little, but just right.
