How Dogs Make Us Happier and Healthier

Life without dogs. Can you imagine such a world? No one to greet you at the end of the day, going for a walk – alone, watching tv in bed without a snuggly, furry friend. Sounds grim, doesn’t it? Fortunately, we will never have to know what it’s like to live in a canine-free world. And, the truth is, our relationships with dogs can help us live happier and healthier lives.

How Dogs Positively Influence Our Lives

Spending time with dogs has its advantages, both physically and emotionally. They provide us with unconditional love, companionship, entertainment and so much more.

All you need is love

In the book, “Dog is Love: Why and How Your Dog Loves You,” psychologist Dr. Clive Wynne argues that dogs have the ability to emotionally connect with other species and carry a certain gene which causes them to have “indiscriminate friendliness.” Through his studies he has shown that affection is the very essence of dogs and that the heart of our relationship with them is love. Dogs thrive on human interaction and love us with everything that they have. This dog-human friendship dates back thousands of years. It is no wonder that they have been dubbed, “man’s best friend.”

Loyalty

Dogs see their human family as part of their pack and essentially adopt them as their own. In the wild, pack members depend upon each other for survival, trusting and working together to overcome dangers. This explains why dogs are so loyal to their humans. They will even place themselves in danger, as their pack instincts take over, to protect their owners. Dogs thrive on the attention and affection they receive from us which further solidifies their social pack mentality and causes them to do anything to make their owners happy.

Companionship

Dogs provide comfort and companionship to their owners. When we are going through tough times we often turn to our furry friends for support. A good example of this was during the pandemic. Dog owners reported that they got comfort from physical contact with their dogs and by sharing activities with them. They treated them in the same way they might treat their friends or family, confiding in them and hugging them. These are all aspects of social support. Many times, during COVID-19, dogs were more available than humans for emotional support.

Evidence of strong companionship can also be found in therapy dogs. They are used to help calm anxiety, stress, and alleviate depression by providing comfort and affection. Therapy dogs assist people in coping with all types of symptoms and circumstances. They provide emotional support and have been shown to improve health and the quality of life.

Got friends?

Research has shown that dog owners are more likely to develop new friendships. Whether you are walking your dog in your neighborhood or visiting a local dog park, the opportunity to talk to other people is greatly increased. Think about it, humans will walk by each other and barely acknowledge one another. Dogs, on the other hand, want to meet every dog and every person. It’s almost impossible to walk your dog and not end up talking to someone new. And, since you have something in common, new friendships often ensue.

Exercise

If you are a dog owner, you already know that dogs force you to get up and move. And, studies have found that dog owners report more regular physical activity than people who don’t own dogs. In addition to taking your dog on a typical walk, you might also take them hiking or running. Just look around, dogs are everywhere today. People take them to the store and the local farmer’s market. Dogs make us get up and go outside. Even small bursts of movement with your dog, over time, will help strengthen your muscles, bones and joints. Eventually you may notice that it is easier to take longer walks and that you have more energy.

With this increased exercise, more calories are burned, helping us to maintain a healthy weight. Walking for 30 minutes a day also helps to reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, osteoporosis, colon and breast cancer, and type 2 diabetes. Walking will also help you sleep better at night.

Laugh out loud

If all of that were not enough, consider that dogs might be some of the funniest animals on the planet. Dogs are unpredictable and goofy. From chasing their tails, cocking their ears sideways, to a whole host of other quirky characteristics, they can be laugh out loud funny. Their unique personalities and unusual habits typically provide some comic relief for us. The benefit is that laughter truly is the best medicine. It can lower our blood pressure, reduce stress, and boost our immune systems.

At the end of the day

Many people enjoy dogs simply for their companionship, but they provide us with so much more than that. Unconditional love, better health, entertainment and new friendships are just a few of the ways that dogs impact our lives. It is true that dogs make us happier and healthier. Life is just better with a dog! Was there ever any doubt?

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Photo courtesy Pixabay/Nordseher