Dogs will make a speedy effort to comfort their owners if they think they are upset, a study has shown for the first time.

Although anecdotally, dog owners claim that their pets are in tune with their emotions and will offer support in times of crisis, it has never been scientifically tested before.

In a new study, scientists from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, US, took 34 dogs and positioned them behind a door which was closed with magnets, with their owners on the other side.

While sitting behind the door, the owners were asked to either hum "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" or pretend to cry.

They found that many of the dogs nosed their way through the door but did it three times more quickly when they thought their owners were upset and needed comforting.