The Benefits of Having Dogs
We may have various reasons for having dogs as companions. Dogs are known for the unconditional love, companionship, and entertainment they give. However, are these the only things that we get from them? Science tells us that there is something else at work. Spending time with your dogs helps in our total well-being. Studies have shown that owning a dog is good for your physical and emotional health. They provide happiness and help cope with crises. This is why there are therapeutic dogs who help people in need. Here we have 10 reasons why having dogs is important to humans.
Constant companion
It is a fact that dogs are there during times when your family and friends aren’t. These fur babies offer unconditional love, emotional support, and constant cuddles that help our cravings for companionship. It has also been observed that they can help reduce the feeling of loneliness and social isolation.
Dogs can heal your heart
Several studies have also shown that owning a dog can help you live longer. Owners have lower blood pressure levels and improved responses to stress. People who have experienced coronary diseases have an increased level of risk reduction for death.
Dogs can help lower stress
Pet dogs can help ease worries as they are there to comfort you. They are known to alleviate stress and anxiety in most dog owners. Petting them has also resulted in a lowering of blood pressure, heart rate, breath cycles, and helps in relaxing muscles. The reason is that the action of petting the canine friends helps in lowering the release of cortisol, which is a known chemical that promotes stress.
They help people cope with crisis
Dogs help us recover from a crisis. Soldiers who have suffered from PTSD do better when they have service dogs. Service dogs helped them in improving their psychological and physiological health. As a result, symptoms of PTSD have greatly reduced and soldiers have shown improved coping skills.
Dogs help in giving physical activities
With the COVID 19 still lurking around the corner, we tend to stay in our homes and decrease any physical activity. Owning a dog encourages us to have long walks along the sidewalks, trails, or parks. As such, we can meet the recommended daily physical activity.
Dogs add to your appeal
If you are looking for a partner then it’s time to get a dog. The presence of a dog while taking a walk make people appear more attractive. Studies have shown that men were likely to get a woman’s attention when they have a dog with them. People also look happier in photos when they are with their pet dogs.
Dogs help us become more sociable
Walking with our dogs helps us become more approachable. They even become conversation starters, helping us break the ice when we see our neighbors or friends. Dogs help us meet new friends and strangers. Experts likewise believe that people who have pets feel more connected with humans and their communities.
Dogs make us happier
Even just looking at photos of dogs can lift our spirits. What more when owning one. It was also observed that looking at dogs increases the level of oxytocin which is generally called as “love hormone”.
Dogs are so adorable
Do you know why people are so into looking at puppies? Their facial features have positive responses to most humans. This response is what most caregivers are looking for from the people they are attending to. The appearances of the puppies are what we call social releasers that trigger positive responses.
Dogs help the elderly in cognition and interaction
Pet dogs have been observed to help elderly people in improving their cognitive function, especially those with mental illness. There was also a significant decrease in agitated behaviors in individuals with dementia as well as a marked improvement in social interactions.
