It’s often said that pets replicate their owner’s behaviors, but it’s not just those early bedtime routines and naps on the couch that they copy.

Have you ever felt stressed or anxious around your pet, and wondered what they might be thinking? It turns out they might be feeling just the same because, so strong is the bond between human and pet, they can even mirror our stress levels.

Indeed, as many animals have been domesticated and learned to view people as part of their community, they’ve picked up on our behaviors. Dr. Andrea Y. Tu, chief of veterinary behavior services at the Heart of Chelsea Veterinary Group, tells Newsweek that pets have “evolved to recognize and understand human communication,” whether that’s body language, verbal tone, or even biological markers.

“They have d

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