How Owning a Pet Dog Can Make You a Better Person
21 March 2022
From motivating people to be more active, to reducing the risk of heart disease, to assisting us in fighting depression, dogs, in a way, can help us live longer and happier lives. But living a busy life, exactly what does dog ownership teach you? How can you benefit as we all have such unique lifestyles? A dog can virtually save your life, as a friend you can depend on, when everyone else seemed to have given up on you.
Here are some facts about how a dog (or any other home-based pet for that matter) can really influence your life for the better.
1. Exercise - A study from the University of Victoria shows that people who have a dog actually walk an average of 300 minutes per week, compared to non-dog owners which are only 168 minutes per week.
2. Health Awareness - A study from German researchers showed that some dogs are actually able to identify early-stage lung cancer which is far better than any doctor or medical equipment. A dog can often tell if you are unwell. This can be shown by them staying close or resting their head on your lap.
3. Stress Reduction - A University of Missouri-Columbia found that petting a dog for 15 minutes releases feel-good hormone prolactin, oxytocin and serotonin which lower the stress hormone cortisol. A fantastic way to introduce an alternative stress reduction method into your life.
4. Prolonging of Life - The Ontario Veterinary Medical Association (OVMA) shows owning a dog can effectively reduce blood pressure as likely as reduction of alcohol intake and par to low-salt diets. This again relates to the back to number 3 above in this list as it involves stress reduction.
5. Responsible Lifestyle - Dogs are known to be creatures of habit, they totally depend on their master. Their appreciation is always present and obvious; you don’t mind focusing to their needs. That means more time at home, which explains how less wear and tear on both your body and wallet can also be appreciated.
6. Conflict Resolution - Dogs can get distressed around aggressive voices or body language. They’re so sensitive to aggressive behavior's that their stress is evident when people argue. Your dog barking at you or whimpering with its tail between its legs is a signal to you to shut up and can also be a wakeup call reminding you that you’re out of line.
7. Happiness Ever After - A study by the State University of New York at Buffalo shows that people with dogs have closer and more pleasing relationships. Pets create the chance to do things together. They spread fun in the home in that they are a strong interest that most people in a combined household can enjoy.
8. Social Life - People of all walks of life share one common interest that brings them together for joyful playtime – having a dog. Dog parks are unique social strata that are now being created, which helps you build professional connections, friendships and social connection with other people in general of like-mindedness.
9. Women and Their Pet Dogs - In a survey conducted of 2,000 people, 70 percent of single women felt relaxed starting conversations with men who had a dog with them. While 40 percent of women who had a partner said that their own dogs recognise their feelings and emotions better than their partners. This is certainly an indication of just how sensitive a dog can be to a person’s needs.
Owning a dog can change so many aspects in your life. It helps you keep things in perspective, keeping the balance in your life. By focusing on these nine areas alone, you begin to realise that your pet dog is not just a dog but in fact a part of the family unit that can bring an overall happiness into your lifestyle.
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