Dogs Make You Healthier and Happier
There have been lots of studies and reports over the years about how having a dog can make you healthier. For us, the obvious health improvement is the fact they get us out just about every day for a walk, whether we want to do it or not. We may struggle with getting to the gym every other day like we plan, and our commitment to eating green leafy and other vegetables seems to run hot and cold, as well as our limit on alcohol and fried and fatty foods. Don’t get me wrong, overall, we do pretty well. We’ll have fruits and vegetables just about every day, but then go an entire weekend with nothing but fun and comfort food. Not drinking during the week is usually not a problem, but then we’ll get together with the neighbors on a Saturday afternoon and drink for hours…and it adds up. And then there is the gym… when we’re going on a regular schedule we simply keep going. But if anything breaks the schedule or routine, like traveling out of town for a few days, it can take a week or longer to get back into it. The one constant, however, is getting out with our dogs. We’re either hiking them off-leash at one of the local parks or trails, or walking them on-leash around the neighborhood just about every day. No walk is less than 2 miles, and I’d say we get out 6 days a week.
It’s not an option with most dogs. The good news is they return so many additional health benefits in addition to getting us up and out.
- Allergy resistance. Exposure to pet dander early in life can help prevent future allergies. Specifically, the studies showed that children less than 1 year of age exposed to one or more cats or dogs had lower allergy development by the time they were 7.
We didn’t have pets in the house when I was an infant, but I have no real food or environmental allergies. And I’m not sure if this was ever studied, but goodness knows our dogs continually keep us exposed to both pet dander and pollen, dust, dirt, dander, etc – and we seem to be well adjusted. - Keep you more positive. Thinking about your pet after a negative social experience can bring you back to feeling happy and reduce the negative experience to basically no effect at all.
I didn’t need a study to tell me this. Thinking of my dogs always makes me smile. - Reduces Loneliness. The studies show that a dog is as fulfilling for many as time with their friends, and it doesn’t take a study to know that walking in the door and getting greeted by your dog is the best ever. Yes, we take it for granted and yes, it can be a bit annoying at times when all you want to do is get through the door and put your stuff down… but nothing is more ‘wrong’ than walking into your house and NOT being greeted. It’s downright creepy. We experienced this when our first dog passed away, and whenever we drop them off for boarding the night before leaving on a trip, etc.
- Improve Self-Esteem. As the sign says, ‘Please let me be the person my dog thinks I am’. The unconditional love, complete dependency, and unwavering adoration from a dog can’t help but make people feel better about themselves. Even better, is people with dogs tend to be more extroverted and less fearful than folks who don’t have a dog.
- Reduce Stress and Lower Blood Pressure. The unconditional love and support you get from a dog makes you feel good. It’s that simple. This one, however, makes me laugh because I know it’s true, but not a day goes by when I’m busily working away at my desk, tackling some problem or project, and just when I’m getting most annoyed and frustrated here comes my little boy dog to campaign for a game of fetch. My initial reaction is usually just a more escalated level of frustration and a stern ‘NOT NOW’ retort. But my little buddy doesn’t give in that easy. He just keeps sitting there, looking cute, staring, wagging his tail, and eventually harassing me with his paw or snout to give him some attention. It’s about that time I realize that getting up and walking away from the computer is the best thing I could do with whatever issue I’m tackling, and going outside for some fresh air and tossing a ball is just what I need.
- Keep us Social. People are drawn to other people with a dog. I do this all the time, especially when I’m out of town and away from our dogs. I’ll see a cute dog and want to meet it. I always ask the owner first, but I just need to get my dog fix sometimes. And the same happens when out walking our dogs. Neighbors will drive-by and waive when they see us, and even stop or shout out their greetings as they go by. The funny part is when I’m not with my dog and waive at a neighbor, and I know they’re not sure who I am since my dog isn’t next to me.
So yes, it’s also true that having a dog on the house is a big responsibility and commitment, and goodness knows they aren’t cheap, but so is a gym membership, allergy medications, anti-depressants, self-esteem seminars, and socializing. When you look at it that way, a dog is a bargain PLUS you get to save a life. So go on down to your local rescue and make an investment in your health and give a dog a forever home.
