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4 Ways Having A Dog Makes You Happier & Healthier

By | December 4th, 2015 | Modified - July 19th, 2016
4 Ways Having A Dog Makes You Happier & Healthier
4 Ways Having A Dog Makes You Happier & Healthier

Article by Mark Kirkpatrick
There have been countless studies(1) on how pet ownership can decrease anxiety, lower the risks of developing depression and in some cases have even shown that having a four-legged friend increases feelings of belonging, self-esteem and a meaningful existence. These friends with benefits have a number of ways they enhance our lives and here’s X reasons they make us both happier and healthier:

1. More Active & Social

One of the many things that comes to mind with dog ownership is walking and playing with them, which is certainly true for the vast majority of those with canine companions. Research suggests(2) that those with four-legged friends had increased physical activity associated with walking and exercising their pets that was up to 77% higher than those without these furry friends.

While there’s many benefits to a healthier lifestyle(3), owning a dog prompts us to get more exercise without the need for a treadmill, gym membership or cardiovascular routine. Other studies have shown that walking our dog in our own neighborhood makes up for 93% of these outdoor sessions. In our suburban community, I know the majority of my neighbor’s first names, along with their dog’s title, chat with them regularly and this comes specifically from our daily ritual.

2. Reduces Allergies & Increases Tolerance

If you’re thinking of getting a dog for your family, along with companionship and life lessons for our youngsters, it could also decrease their risk of developing allergies. According to the ASPCA(4), the earlier that kids are exposed to animals in their homes, the better, especially for infants.

Researchers believe this concept comes from the “hygiene theory,” an idea that early exposure to allergens like pet dander and dust, can help trigger the immune system to develop a tolerance and reduce the likelihood that a child will have these types of sensitivities later in life.

3. Lower Stress & Live Longer

After a long, hard day at work or school, it’s always nice to come home to that unconditional love shown by our best friend, from that smiling face all the way down to the wagging tail. Studies have also shown(5) that petting or playing with your dog decreases the production of the stress hormone cortisol (the bad kind) and increases the stress-reducing hormone oxytocin (the good stuff).

More: Dr. Sebi Nutritional Guide »

Many of us have also heard that both having a dog and a good social circle will help us to live longer lives and one of the researchers wrote, “Both pet ownership and social support are significant predictors of survival, independent of the effects of the other psychosocial factors and physiologic status.”

4. Help To Quit Smoking & Suggesting Others Stop

This last one may seem a little far-fetched, but even more studies have shown(6) that having a dog could help people to quit smoking. When presented with the facts about the dangers of secondhand smoke, 28% of those that light up said they would be motivated to kick the habit for the sake of their animal.

Furthermore, people who did not smoke but lived with people that do, almost 10% of them would ask their roommate to quite and upwards of 15% would have them light up outdoors. While these numbers may seem low, it’s still better than nothing.

So there you have it. Not only do dogs make us happy, they could also help us to drop some bad habits and gain new, more healthy routines through better diet and exercise.

Sources:
[1] APA; Dr. McConnell The Truth About Cats and Dogs… 11 July, 2011
[2] Am J Public Health. Understanding Dog Owners’ Increased Levels of… Jan 2008
[3] Rachael Garland Here’s 3 Reasons Why Being In Great Shape Pays Off… 11 Nov. 2015
[4] Dana Wilkosz Does Having Pets Prevent Allergies in Kids? 17 Nov. 2014
[5] Published by Elsevier Inc. The effect of dog–human interaction on cortisol and… 8 Aug. 2014
[6] S M Milberger, R M Davis, A L Holm Pet owners’ attitudes and behaviours related to smoking and… 18 Dec 2008

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