The Health Benefits of Having a Dog- Let me Count the ways
Man’s best friend. That is what these furry friends of ours are known as. Did you know that our canine companions are not just cute and cuddly? I am going to cover several health benefits of having a dog. However, if you have ideas I have missed, feel free to chime in. You can email us at info@thebodyfollows.com
Reason #1
Empathy, mental and spiritual health. Our pups are 100% dependent on us for a decent quality of life. Most of us that get dogs as pets do not just get them to perform a job. The enrichment we get from our dogs almost cannot be be measured. We choose these animals, for sometimes reasons unknown, but we form a connection and bond with them.
We take care of them for life even though we know they won’t choose our nursing home, pay our bills or keep a roof over our head.
If we are lucky, they might bark when a stranger comes to the door. Our dogs are more than just things, they eventually become part of the family. Most of them, sooner rather than later.
I would also have to argue that is refreshing that we are willing to do what we can to help another living being, even when there might not be a physical or financial reward for doing so. That is a trait sorely lacking in many of us.
Our pets can teach us things no human could.
If you happen to be a research buff here is study that shows reading to dogs might be beneficial to children.
Reason #2
One of the major health benefits of having a dog is the physical benefit. Your dogs need to eat, they need to be exercised, they need to go potty. Your pooch is usually not going to be able to do all those things for himself, so that means mommy or daddy has to do it.
A high energy dog requires even more work. At our household we have three dogs and one of the three needs plenty of stimulation throughout the day. The two other dogs, while older and less active still get daily walks and force us as owners to take them out and keep them fed and clean.
The Human Kinetics Journal backs up my assertion. Click on the orange links to read the data.
Reason #3
Pets may be able to boost the immune system of children. The basics of vaccines is that they take a small amount of whatever they are trying to protect you against, and introduce that to your body. A dog in the home may results in the same physical response in children. They often track in dirt, insects and allergens present around your home that your small child may not be exposed too.
The US Library of Medicine conducted studies that may link better health to children who’s households have dogs.
Here is a quote from the same study:
Within the Childhood Origins of Asthma birth cohort population, investigators have tried to relate neonatal and early-life immune responses to clinical symptoms in early life. They have shown a reduced prevalence of allergic sensitization and eczema at the age of 1 year amongst those with a dog, and that by the age of 3 years, the presence of a dog at birth was no longer protective for allergic sensitization, but there was reduced wheeze in this group. Immune responses were analyzed in the context of pet ownership by comparing the PHA-stimulated PBMC cytokine response profiles at the age of 1 and 3 years, between those with and without dogs at birth. At both time points, those with a dog at birth showed increased IL-10 and IL-13 production in response to the mitogens, compared with those without a dog.
Reason #4
Another one of the benefits of having a dog is you will be happier! People tend to go through ups and downs, that is just a fact of life. Sometimes just having your dog nearby is enough to bring you a sense of peace and happiness. Your pup is always happy to see you. They don’t ask questions. he or she will show you love no matter what happened that day.
If you don’t believe me, then here is more research to back it up!
Reason #5
Dogs can detect potentially fatal illnesses by sniffing your breath! A dog with nothing more than basic obedience training can learn to detect early and late stage cancer. As you can see, they can improve and even save your life in many ways.
Reason #6
Most of us don’t rely on our dogs to perform any specific task these days. That does not mean that they are not capable of pitching in anyway. One thing canines seem to be experts at is detecting anything unusual around the home. Dogs have a tremendous sense of hearing and can pick up the sound of footsteps that we would not hear.
Furthermore, dogs have a sense of smell many times stronger than ours. They can sniff out smoke, gas or other smells that pose a threat to the family inside of the home.
Our loving companions therefore, also serve as an early warning system against physical hazards.
Reason #7
A dog attracts attention. Having a dog and taking him on a walk usually results in people stopping to speak to you. Also, taking your dog for a ride, or to a park or out to eat with you often results in other social opportunities.
If you lack human interaction the social side is another one of the benefits of having a dog.
If you have been bouncing back and forth between adding a new member to your family or not, hopefully this article has moved you in the right direction!
