During her PhD studies, Lene Høeg Fuglsang-Damgaard investigated how interactions with dogs influence humans in three different contexts: varying levels of contact with dogs, exposure to experimental pain and performing stressful tasks. Dogs are increasingly used in therapeutic settings, but the scientific evidence of their effects remains limited. Her research focused on physiological measures such as heart rate, blood pressure, emotional sweating and the stress hormone cortisol, while observing how humans and dogs interact.

Her findings contribute to the basic knowledge of understanding how dogs influence humans and may provide guidance for implementing dogs effectively in therapeutic contexts.

The PhD study was completed at Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences (ANIVET), Faculty of Technical Sciences, Aarhus University.

This summary was prepared by the PhD student.

Time: Friday, 10 April 2026, at 10.00
Place: Building 8814-3075, Auditorium, AU Viborg, Aarhus University, Blichers Allé 20, 8830 Tjele
Title of PhD thesis: Dogs’ effect on human physiological responses - during different types of human-dog interactions, experimental heat pain induction and a stress-eliciting task.
Contact information: Lene Høeg Fuglsang-Damgaard, e-mail: fuglsang@anivet.au.dk, tel.: +45 25381924
Members of the assessment committee:
Research Professor Cheryl A. Krause-Parello, Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, Florida Atlantic University, USA
Assistant Professor Kerri Rodrigues, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, USA
Senior Researcher Ole Højberg (chair), Research Unit Gut and Host Health, Aarhus University, Denmark
Main supervisor:
Senior Researcher Karen Thodberg, Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark
Co-supervisor:
Professor Janne Winther Christensen, Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark
Professor Lene Vase, Department of Psychology and Behavioural Sciences, Aarhus University, Denmark
Professor Poul B. Videbech, Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
Language: The PhD dissertation will be defended in English

The defence is public.
The PhD thesis is available for reading at the Graduate School of Technical Sciences/GSTS, Ny Munkegade 120, building 1521, 8000 Aarhus C.