Why Dog Owners Are Healthier And Happier

It’s not just your own bias speaking, there’s plenty of evidence that people who own dogs live happier and healthier lives. With their own unique personalities and wonderful fluffiness, that might seem like a no-brainer, but you might be surprised as just how much they can help us improve our way of living. Here’s why dog owners live better lives and how you can get the most out of your relationship with your pooch.

The joys of company

Simply put, having someone around who values your presence and your life as much as a dog is nothing but good for your self-confidence, esteem, and general well being. They have been shown to help greatly with stress, anxiety and depression. Dogs can also give us a sense of purpose. Overcoming challenges with them offers both us and our pup a great deal of mental and emotional stimulation. A great way to feel that sense of satisfaction is to try and teach them some new tricks. It’s just as good for them to have a “job” to fulfill, too.

The exercise they bring

Provided that we give them enough time and attention, dogs will give us plenty of exercise. Daily walks and playing can help us keep active, taking care of our joints, managing our weight, and improve our sleep at night. There are plenty of fun ways to get your dog involved in your daily exercise, too, such as using a dog backpack for hiking. Ensuring they get enough exercise and contact with the outside world is crucial as, otherwise, their behavior can become more aggressive and restless, too. Finding new ways to play with them is always fun, too.

The importance of learning responsibility

It’s always wise to have an idea of what you’re getting into to make sure that you’re ready to take care of a dog. However, for many people, it will be their first real experience of having complete responsibility for the health and well being of another living creature. As such, learning how to take care of them, address their needs, and make sure that they get over any illnesses, injuries, or problems they have can help us grow a lot as a person. This can be great for your self-esteem, too. Helping a dog live a happy, fruitful life is a great sign that you’re able to handle real responsibility and challenges.

They can even help us live longer

In part due to exercise and in part due to their stress-busting effects, dogs have even shown an ability to help us live longer and in better health. For instance, they have been shown to reduce our chances of heart disease and cardiac events. They’re not a miracle cure, of course, taking care of yourself is always important. Still, your dog can be a great component of a healthier life, overall.

Dogs teach us how to care, overcome challenges, get us up and about, and can have a net positive effect on our well being. Make sure you’re appreciating and taking care of your pup because they’re taking care of you.

Feature Image Source:  Pexels