Can dogs slow down aging in women?

Owning or working with man’s best friend puts the brakes on biological aging in females, according to the ground-breaking study.

The research, which focused on female former soldiers in the United States, is among the first to examine the impact of working with service dogs.

By measuring biological indicators of stress, scientists uncovered a key insight: the way stress is felt emotionally doesn’t always reflect how it affects the body at a cellular level.

They say the findings provide early evidence that non-pharmacological interventions – such as service dog training – may help reduce the physical toll of stress and slow cellular aging.

While women have served in the U.S. military for generations, their roles have expanded dramatically since 1948.

But despite their growing presence, most military studies still center on men – even though women veterans report higher rates of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

A research team, led by scientists from Florida Atlantic University (FAU), conducted the new study involving female veterans with PTSD.

But instead of receiving service dogs, the women volunteered to train them for fellow veterans in need – offering support not just to others, but potentially to themselves.

The study, published in the journal Behavioral Sciences, examined whether the purposeful, mission-driven activity could reduce both biological and psychological stress, and whether previous combat exposure influenced those effects.

Female veterans aged 32 to 72 were randomly assigned to either a service dog training program or a comparison group that watched dog training videos.

Both groups took part in one-hour sessions each week for eight weeks.

To measure biological stress, the research team examined telomere length—a marker of cellular aging—using saliva samples, as well as heart rate variability (HRV), a sign of nervous system balance.

The researchers used wearable monitors in participants in the service dog training group or a comparison group that watched dog training videos.

Psychological stress was monitored using questionnaires measuring PTSD symptoms, perceived stress, and anxiety at multiple points during the study.

The findings showed "promising" biological benefits associated with service dog training – particularly for veterans with combat experience – while improvements in psychological symptoms were seen across all participants, regardless of the intervention.

The researchers said one of the most "striking" findings involved telomere length.

Veterans who participated in the dog-training program showed an increase in telomere length, suggesting a slowing of cellular aging.

But those in the control group exhibited a decrease in telomere length, indicating accelerated aging.

Combat experience significantly influenced the results.

Veterans with combat exposure who trained service dogs experienced the greatest gains in telomere length, whereas those with combat exposure in the control group saw the most pronounced declines.

Both those who trained dogs and those in the control group reported "significant" reductions in PTSD symptoms, anxiety and perceived stress over the eight-week period.

The mental health improvements were similar across groups, suggesting that simply participating in the study and receiving structured attention may have offered therapeutic value.

Study first author Dr. Cheryl Krause-Parello, associate vice president for FAU research, said: “Female veterans face unique reintegration challenges that are often overlooked, and traditional PTSD treatments don’t always meet their needs.

“Non-traditional approaches like connecting with animals can offer meaningful support.

"These relationships provide emotional safety and stability, which can be especially powerful for women.

"But not all veterans can care for a service animal, so animal-related volunteerism may offer similar healing benefits without the burden of ownership.”

She says the study also suggests that skills learned during service dog training – such as positive reinforcement and reading animal behavior – may have strengthened participants’ bonds with their own pets at home, offering additional emotional support.

Dr. Krause-Parello said: "Unlike general volunteering, service dog training uniquely blends emotional healing with building a close relationship between veterans and their animals, providing therapeutic benefits that go beyond typical community engagement."

She added: "This research underscores the power of service dog training as a meaningful, non-pharmacological intervention to support the health and healing of female veterans with PTSD.

“It opens the door to more personalized approaches that nurture both the mind and body.”