8 Amazing Benefits Of Having a Dog As a Pet

If you are a dog owner, then you are probably aware of the joy that your four-legged friend brings along with it. Getting up in the morning is a lot easier when you have a dog waiting excitedly for you to open your eyes. You will notice their excitement increase as you get dressed and grab the leash to take your beloved pet for a nice little stroll. Let’s face it, the excitement that emanates from these pets can’t help but bring a huge smile to your face.

These loyal, playful, and downright loving creatures make for phenomenal pets due to their admirable qualities. Not only are dogs undeniably reliable, but they also offer a ton of mood and health-boosting benefits.

They Help Improve Heart Health

Dogs can figuratively and literally improve the condition of your heart. Your canine friend is a truly special creature that helps make your heart stronger by lowering your blood pressure, reducing cholesterol, and decreasing triglyceride levels. All these factors eventually contribute towards improving your cardiovascular activity and lower the risk of heart attacks. Also, dog owners who suffer from heart attacks also tend to have higher rates of survival. 

They Help Keep You Active

Tired of a monotonous exercise routine? Take your four-legged friend for a long stroll! Most health experts suggest that the average adult should get at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate exercise a week. In this case, dog owners are much likely to meet their fitness goals. Not only does going for a daily walk with your dog improve the health of your pet, but it also makes you more active, and helps you keep off the extra pounds. 

They Help Improve Your Social Life

As we age, it becomes harder and harder to maintain our social life. However, this doesn’t apply to dog owners. Just like their pets, dog owners become friendly with their kind, considering the activities they share in common. Also, dog owners tend to make friends more easily because of the vast majority of other owners.

They Help Reduce Stress and Anxiety

There’s a reason that some dogs are especially meant for therapy. Yes, therapy dogs are considered to be extremely effective! Spending only a few minutes with a pet can help lower your blood pressure and anxiety. Having a dog, as a companion, can be comforting and build the self-confidence of those who feel nervous about stepping out in the world. Since dogs tend to live in the moment, they also help their owners become more grounded and mindful of living in the moment. 

Moreover, spending time with dogs is also associated with a boost in dopamine and serotonin levels, neurochemicals that promote calmness and wellbeing. Those who perform stressful tasks can instantly feel their mood elevate with a dog around due to their loving nature and playful personality. 

They Bring Meaning and Purpose to Your Life

Growing older means losing purpose and meaning in everyday life. Loneliness and depression often have the same effect on a person’s life. Having a dog around means having a partner for life! Not only do dogs provide you with support, but they also require support, which ultimately pushes you to do certain tasks.

So, dogs basically help prevent the negative consequences of loneliness and isolation, keeping you from falling into cognitive decline. 

They Help Keep Depression at Bay

A widespread belief is that dog owners tend to be much less prone to depression compared to those who don’t have any pets. This is mainly because these adorable four-legged creatures help improve various areas of health and wellbeing. A research study provided evidence that having dogs as pets lowered the signs of depression in HIV-positive men and isolated elderly people. 

They Can Help Battle Disease and Injury

Most dogs can also help detect, try, and manage various illnesses. Certain dogs have been trained well to sniff out different types of cancers, such as kidney, skin, bladder, and prostate cancer. Furthermore, there are also many other service dogs that help people with autism, traumatic brain injuries, arthritis, etc. They also help increase mobility and promote independence. Dogs can even help soothe Alzheimer patients by mitigating their aggression and emotional flare-ups. 

They Provide Companionship

There’s no doubt that loneliness can be detrimental to an individual’s health and wellbeing as it triggers symptoms of depression and anxiety. On the other hand, companionship not only helps prevent various illnesses, but it also adds years to your life. Caring for an animal, especially a friendly one like a dog, can help you feel needed and can prove as a distraction from your problems. Dogs are there for you in ways that humans can’t be. They offer unconditional love, friendship, and care. Nothing can beat loneliness better like walking into your home to a wagging tail and lots of kisses!

Conclusion

The mood and health-boosting benefits of having a dog as a pet are truly immeasurable. With the wagging tails and deep eyes, these creatures can make your life better by reducing loneliness, providing you companionship, lowering your depression, anxiety and stress, and even making you engage more in physical activities. Most of all, dogs make you feel immensely loved and cared for by improving your overall physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing! 

So, if you are looking for a companion that makes you love life, adopt a dog now!