Loyal, protective and always happy, dogs proved to be one of the best companions of human for years. Dogs are lovable creatures that create an unconditional bond with their owners within no time. If you have ever owned a dog you must be aware of how much fun and affection they can bring to your life. Children usually find consoling friend in their pets. The pet provides them a meaning full relationship. Their emotional development can also boost while owning and taking care of a pet like dog. Moreover, growing up with a pet like a dog can help your child to learn and improve different skills such as socializing, reading, modeling their behavior, increasing self-esteem and learning parental skills.
Physical Health Benefits:
Not only this, dogs are super active animals that love to play, walk, run, chase and cuddle. However taking them out for a walk or play time may not be fun always but they keep you engaged in physical activities which helps in strengthening your immune system and saves you from many diseases. They keep you moving that lowers cholesterol level and leads to active life. Running or walking with your pet dog also strengthen you muscles that is not just about being healthy it also increases your self-esteem and feeling of self-worth. Allergies may cause you become lethargic and you may suffer from insomnia which can make you more vulnerable to mental health issues. Studies have shown that people that own dogs are less prone to allergies and health issues like eczema or asthma.
Dogs Can Elevate Your Mood Instantly:
But do you know that dogs come with some pretty powerful mental health benefits? Most pet owners claim that coming back home after a hard day of work and snuggling with their dogs instantly elevates their mood and brings feeling of happiness. Wagging tail, hanging tongue and making faces as he is smiling at you works as a mood booster. Spending time with a dog can help you to reduce stress, anxiety and depression. Your dog makes you happy by making sluggish faces and the cute things they do which increases your brain’s level of dopamine and serotonin which are associated with pleasure and tranquility. So the next time you are bore get yourself engaged with your puppy.
Increases Your Self Worth:
Caring for a living animal can make help you feel needed and wanted. They can provide you purpose for life. Caring them also distracts you from negative thoughts and makes you focus on present. The human animal bond bypasses the intellect and goes straight to heart. Dogs reduce feeling of loneliness as they love you unconditionally and provide you opportunity for being socially active.
Becomes a Lean Ear In Times Of Need:
Dogs attuned to human behavior and emotions in no time. Due to their heightened sense of smell, sight and hearing dogs start understanding many of our words more than that they can even notice and interpret our tone of voice and body gestures. Like any other companion, dogs gauge our emotional state and works to make us feel better. In addition to this it has been noticed that dog becomes lean ear for children and adults in times of sadness and depression. Sharing is caring, indeed it is, in times of loneliness or depression you can easily share your heart with your furry companion without hesitation which relieves your mental stress. In addition to this, they can help you break the ice and lessen your isolation. Your dog makes friend easily and can help you to make friends too. People interaction also helps to recover pain linked to nerve damage.
Mental Health:
Touch and movement are two healthy ways to manage stress. Touching your dog or cuddling can lower your blood pressure and can help you quickly calm and relieve your stress. Concentrate on his fur’s warm radiations and his deep breaths. Living with a dog increases your level of the hormone oxytocin that is love hormone and works as a neurotransmitter which helps in increasing trust and reducing fear. These hormones help in reducing stress and anxiety and also reduce your blood pressure and lower cortisol levels.
Bond You in A Routine:
Dogs add structure to your day they require a routine and exercise schedule that keeps them calm and balanced that can also work for you. Keeping with a routine will let you manage things properly and avoid stress.
Eliminates Your Isolation:
Going out with your dog provides you with chance to get some fresh air to boost yourself naturally and opportunity to engage in social interaction. Dogs make friends really fast and hep you to open up with people and other dog parents.
I believe that the above mentioned emotional health and mental benefits of owning a dog will get you out of the dilemma of whether to own a dog pet or not.
Author Bio:
Wendy is a self-employed beauty therapist, mother of two; life-long pet parent and lover of dogs who somehow manages to squeeze in the time to satisfy another of her loves – writing. Wendy is the founder, main contributor to and editor of TotallyGoldens.com