The old saying “dogs are man’s best friend” is just as accurate as it is cliché. Various studies have proven the effects dogs have on our health and well-being. Owning a Dog gives you greater self esteem, makes you more conscientious, more extraverted, less fearful, and less preoccupied than non-owners.
Pet owners are also proven to have:
1. Lower stress:
Studies have shown that petting a dog or cat can release the oxytocin hormone and decrease levels of the stress hormone cortisol, resulting in a more relaxed state. Incidentally, scientists have confirmed that dogs reap the same benefits from being petted. In recent years, dogs have been brought into airports, nursing homes, even school campuses to help relieve stress and pressure.
2. Healthier hearts:
A study dating back to the 80s found that touching or even talking to a dog can lead to lower blood pressure. In 2002, another study found that married couples who owned a pet had significantly lower heart rates and blood pressure levels than people without pets.
3. More active lifestyles:
Need to amp up those steps or drop a few pounds? Owning a dog may be the kick-start you need. 60% of dog owners who walked their pets regularly met the recommended criteria for regular exercise. There appears to be a strong link between owning and walking a dog and achieving higher levels of physical activity, even after accounting for the actual dog walking. Of course, it’s recommended you select a dog that fits your lifestyle—in other words, a very active dog would not be a good fit for a more sedentary family.
4. Fewer feelings of loneliness:
From feeling obligated to get out of the house to walk their dogs as well as attracting attention by the presence of a dog, people who own dogs are proven to be less lonely. A study published in 1993 found that “dog owners reported significantly less dissatisfaction with their social, physical and emotional states.”
5. Fewer allergies:
Children who had a dog at home as newborns were much less likely to have allergic dermatitius (12% versus 27%) and wheezing (19% versus 36%) by their third birthday. Also, researchers are examining whether the bacteria in dogs’ mouths may have a probiotic-like effect on humans after licking their owners.