Pet Parents Are Happier and Healthier :The Science-Backed Benefits of Being a Dog Owner

Pet Parents Are Happier and Healthier :The Science-Backed Benefits of Being a Dog Owner

Being a dog parent is good for your health and happiness and that’s something all dog owners know and feel every single day. The comfort and love you get from your dog when you come home after a tiring day are indescribable. The five-minute playtime with your dog before you get going with your day is the best part of your day. During COVID-19 pandemic, experts have  highlighted the many benefits of having a dog as a companion. And these aren’t just people talking about the benefits of having a dog in your life, but there’s scientific evidence that shows how dogs can transform your way of living.

Being a pet in America is a plum gig. Pets are incredibly well loved: according to a 2015 Harris poll, 95% of owners think of their animal as a member of the family. About half buy them birthday presents. And it’s a two-way street. People who have pets tend to have lower blood pressure, heart rate and heart-disease risk than those who don’t. Those health boons may come from the extra exercise that playing and walking require, and the stress relief of having a steady best friend on hand.

Scientists are now digging up evidence that animals can also help improve mental health, even for people with challenging disorders. Though the studies are small, the benefits are impressive enough that clinical settings are opening their doors to animal-assisted interventions–pet therapy, in other words–used alongside conventional medicine.

The value of pets for human health

The notion that ‘pets are good for us’ is by no means a new one. As early as the 18th century William Tuke, a Quaker philanthropist who ran an asylum for people with severe mental disorders, indicated that his patients gained health benefits from being around animals. The courtyards of the asylum were thus stocked with an array of rabbits, seagulls, hawks and poultry in the hope of encouraging ‘benevolent feelings’, greater responsibility and self-control. Animals became increasingly common features of English mental asylums throughout the 19th century. Indeed, it was recommended by the British Charity Commissioners that sheep, hares, monkeys and other domestic animals should be added to these institutions in a bid to create a less hostile, and more attractive, environment. The value of animals for physical health was also noted in these earlier years, with Florence Nightingale, in her Notes on Nursing (1880), indicating that people confined to the same room because of medical problems gained pleasure from the presence of a bird.

Having a pet is an enriching experience that comes with a variety of advantages for your mental and physical health. Our pets can help us live longer, happier, and healthier lives. From reducing the risk of heart attacks to alleviating loneliness, the benefits of having pets are plentiful. Let’s talk about those benefits:

1. Pets are excellent mood enhancers

Having a pet around is extremely helpful in relieving stress. Playing with your pet can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine, which help in making you feel calm and relaxed. Additionally, petting your animal friend, especially a cat, makes your body produce more oxytocin. Oxytocin, sometimes referred to as the “love hormone,” aids in boosting your levels of happiness.

2. Pets are effective stress busters

After a long, demanding day at work, no matter how stressed out or worn out you may feel, the joy and love you receive from your pet is sure to make you feel happy. This is because spending time and interacting with your pet is proven to reduce stress. It lowers the levels of cortisol, a stress-related hormone, and decreases blood pressure, both of which are directly linked to one’s physical and mental health. Pets are excellent stress relievers and very beneficial, especially for people suffering from anxiety or hypertension.

3. They help ease feelings of loneliness and depression

It goes without saying that having a pet can provide great companionship and make you happier. The strong bond you share with your pet not only helps reduce stress and anxiety, it also makes you feel less lonely. They help individuals fight against and recover from depression by giving their owners unconditional love.

Additionally, pets also help increase your sense of self-esteem while also boosting your mood and confidence. Moreover, dogs are extremely good at detecting when their owners are sad or depressed and will try their best to cheer you up.

4. Pets can be great exercise buddies

People with pets tend to lead a more active lifestyle compared to their no-pet counterparts. Whether it’s having a cat or a dog or any other animal, taking care of your pet — feeding, grooming, and playing or walking with them is proven to help you stay healthier.

Walking your dog regularly can help you regulate your stress and keep your cholesterol levels in check. Hence, people with dogs tend to have lower blood pressure and are less likely to develop heart disease.

5. They give you a sense of purpose

Having a pet changes your outlook on life. They give you a sense of purpose, especially when you’re going through difficulties in life. The bond with your pet provides a sense of togetherness, trust, joy and companionship.

6.Dogs Improve Your Mood

Research shows that having an optimistic or pessimistic attitude is mostly under our control. Choosing to share your life with a dog can help you maintain a more positive perspective on life while lessening the symptoms of depression and anxiety. “The human-animal bond bypasses the intellect and goes straight to the heart,” says author and animal expert Karen Winegar, nurturing us, she claims, in ways that nothing else can. We couldn’t agree more.

7.Dogs Promote A Feeling Of Being Loved

When you spend time with your dog, especially petting and cuddling him, your oxytocin levels increase. A neurotransmitter often referred to as the “love hormone,” oxytocin calms your nervous system, relaxes you, and increases your trust levels.

8.Pets Help Lower Stress

Petting your pooch not only ups your oxytocin level but also lowers your level of cortisol, aka the “stress hormone.” Multiple studies show that stress-wise, everyone from students to employees benefits from having their pet with them. It’s even thought that in times of extreme stress, a dog can be more beneficial than another person in helping you recover from stressful challenges.

9.Dogs Encourage Social Interaction

People who are shy, introverted, or simply not confident in social situations gain two important benefits from sharing life with a dog. First, they feel less lonely. Secondly, a dog can make them feel more comfortable connecting with people, particularly other pet parents. Conversations are easier to start with fellow dog lovers, and these simple interactions go a long way in helping up a person’s confidence quotient.

10.Dogs Support A Healthy And Fit Lifestyle

Studies have long shown that a dog can reduce your risk of premature death by up to a third. Simple lifestyle adjustments that come with being a pet parent, such as taking your dog for a walk and playing with him in the backyard, keep you active throughout the day. These activities can boost your physical health and improve your mood, both essential to lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels, which are associated with the risk of heart-related illnesses.

11.Dog owners have increased heart health

Yes, owning a dog helps decrease your risk of heart disease. According to a study done by Harvard, dog owners showed lower levels of cholesterol and triglyceride than non-dog owners. As heart disease is the top cause of death among both men and women in the US, this is kind of a big deal.

Studies have also shown lower blood pressure in dog owners, and this can partially be accounted for by the hormone oxytocin, which is sometimes referred to as the natural love drug. Whenever you interact with your dog, by petting them, even looking into their eyes, the hormone oxytocin is released in higher levels in both parties. This leads to bonding and is a natural de-stressor.

12.Dogs help your immune system fend off sickness

Decreasing the risk of heart disease is a pretty amazing benefit, but so is this next one. If you’re a germaphobe though, it might be best to jump to #3 on the list. The logic goes like this, dogs bring all sorts of new bacteria into our homes, and into our bodies. Exposure to these bacteria gives our immune systems a boost in fighting diseases. So by covering us in germs, dog owners end up getting sick less often, and with less severity than non-dog owners.

13.Dogs can make us resistant to allergies

This one may sound counterintuitive because there are a lot of folks out there who are allergic to dogs. If you grow up alongside dogs though, you are increasingly becoming more immune to allergies according to  a recent study. The study showed that children with dogs see a severely reduced risk (up to 4x lower) of developing other allergies.

In another remarkable study, researchers found that if a dog was in the house during pregnancy, the newborn children showed two new bacteria in their gut, Ruminococcus and Oscillospira. These newfound bacteria help fight off common allergies, asthma, and obesity.

14.Being a dog owner increases your happiness

This one seems a little obvious, but now we have studies to back it up. Being a dog owner makes people less likely to be depressed, and also helps with social support for those that are already clinically depressed. Dog owners showed higher self-esteem, more exercise, less stress and were less lonely.

15.Dogs can help you lose weight

Being a dog owner makes you more active without having to even think about it. The simple act of playing with your dog and going on walks gives your body additional exercise on an ongoing basis. Not to mention the previously mentioned gut microbes that help prevent obesity. According to a study by Healthy People, walking your dog five days a week for just 20 minutes at a time led to an average weight loss of 14.4 pounds over the course of a year.

16.Dogs can detect diseases such as cancer, and potentially save lives

The earliest study that showed dogs could sniff out various forms of cancer was way back in 1989 when The Lancet, a peer-reviewed journal, did a case study that showed a dog repeatedly licking a cancerous mole. Since then there have been many anecdotal stories of dogs sniffing and licking a cancerous lump on their owner’s body. Some dogs are now trained specifically to detect cancer, and your dog may be able to save your life one day if they’ve been blessed with a particularly potent nose.

Dogs have also shown the ability to detect diabetes by sensing when their owner’s blood sugar has dropped.

These dogs are trained by being rewarded whenever they detect the disease and learn to focus in on only that particular scent. Scientists aren’t sure what exactly the dogs are smelling, but the fact that a dogs nose can detect cancer and diabetes is truly incredible.

17.Growing up with a dog makes kids more empathetic

A 2017 study revealed that pet attachment among 12-year-olds promoted positive attitudes and more compassion towards animals. You shouldn’t be surprised to discover that kids with dogs had the highest scores for pet attachment. The study concluded that, “Attachment to pets has an important role in children’s social, emotional, and cognitive development, mental health, well-being, and quality of life.” It also noted that “dogs may help children to regulate their emotions.”

18.Owning a dog makes you more active

This is another in the “duh” category, but it’s worth pointing out that studies have repeatedly shown that dog owners are more likely to meet their recommended amount of daily activity than non-dog owners.

The simple acts of letting your dog outside, going on walks, and even just having a relaxing playtime session all lead to more exercise for both you and your dog. What’s better than staying healthy while keeping your dog happy? This also means you’re going to have the advantage in friendly fitness tracker competitions. In fact, a recent study showed that on average dog owners took 2,760 more steps than non-dog owners.

19.Dog owners live longer lives

With all the medical and health benefits we’ve already covered, it should come as no surprise that dog owners live longer lives. The simple benefits of being happier and less stressed alone should lead to a longer and more enjoyable life, not to mention the exercise benefits and potential early disease detection.

According to the study of over 3.4 million people (Sample size large enough? Check!) researchers concluded that being a dog owner reduced the risk of death by 33 percent.

20.Dogs can help bring out your personality

A recent study in England showed a direct link between a dog owner’s personality and the type of dog they owned. The type of dog that you will naturally bond with will tell you a lot about your personality. By getting matched up with a dog that fits your personally you’ll be helping to ensure a positive, fun and mutually beneficial friendship for years to come.

21.Dogs may help lower blood pressure

The American Heart Association (AHA) reviewed several studies about the benefits of pet ownership. And multiple studies revealed that pet owners tended to have lower blood pressure when compared to people who didn’t own pets.

The AHA’s review also found that people who had pets — in addition to taking medication to treat high blood pressure — had lower blood pressure levels during stressful situations. The researchers also concluded that having a pet can provide social support and improve health.

That’s not to say that the research is completely conclusive. In another study, pet owners had higher diastolic (bottom number) blood pressure than people who didn’t own pets. So the link between having a dog and blood pressure is still being studied.

22.Dogs may help reduce the risk of heart attack and heart disease

When you’re more active, feel less stressed, and have improved blood pressure, your risk of heart disease decreases.

One study tracked participants for 12 years in order to look at the association between dog ownership and the risk of heart disease. It found that people who lived alone but owned a dog were less likely to develop heart disease than those who didn’t have a dog.

Another study, included in the AHA review, found that people with heart disease who owned a dog were less likely to die within 1 year of having a heart attack than those who didn’t own a dog.

In addition, the review looked at a study that tracked people who had previous heart attacks for 2 years. The research considered factors like depression in this group and found that pet owners had a lower death rate than those who didn’t have pets.

But more research is needed to better understand the link between owning a dog, lower risk of heart disease, and increased chances of survival after a heart attack. And, while owning a dog may improve your heart health, the AHA does not recommend getting a dog only for the purpose of decreasing your risk of heart disease.

23.Dogs may help reduce cholesterol levels

Speaking of heart health, having high cholesterol can increase your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. But, as you may have already guessed, a dog may also help lower your cholesterol levels.

There isn’t a lot of research about the link between having a dog and cholesterol levels. In the group of studies the AHA reviewed, one found that male dog owners had lower total cholesterol than people who didn’t own dogs. And another survey found that people who regularly walked their dogs reported lower cholesterol levels than people who didn’t have a dog.

Among the things that the AHA recommends for lowering cholesterol is getting enough exercise. Walking is an excellent way to get physical activity. Take your tail-wagger on walks; they make great company and you may reduce your cholesterol levels by getting exercise.

24.Dogs can improve your mental health

Your mental health may also benefit from having a dog in your life. A four-legged best friend may help boost your mental health by:

• Helping fight loneliness:While offering love and affection, your furry pal also keeps you from feeling lonely. People who lived alone but had a dog during the COVID-19 lockdown reported less loneliness than those who lived completely alone. They said having dogs encouraged them to go on walks and socialize with people.
• Providing comfort:If you’re not already familiar with the comfort a canine companion can provide, you’re in for a treat. Dogs make great emotional support animals (ESAs). In one study, some dogs who perceived their owners were in distress pushed through an obstacle to reach them.
• Improving mood:When you’re feeling low, a dog can help lift you up. For example, in one study, people living with HIV were less likely to experience depression if they owned a dog. And another study found that children who had a pet dog had less anxiety than those who did not.
• Making you happier:A canine companion offers more than unconditional love and non-judgmental cuddles. A survey reported that dogs provide emotional support to their owners, especially during struggles with mental health. When you feel better physically and mentally, your quality of life is better and you tend to be happier.

 Dogs and your health:

• Studies show that dog owners may live longer than non-dog owners.
• Dog owners are 31% less likely to die from a heart attack or stroke than non-dog owners.
• People with prior heart events who had a dog living at home had a 65% reduced risk of death.
• Dog owners who walk their dogs regularly face one-third the risk of diabetes of those who don’t own a dog.
• Dog parents are more likely to reach their fitness goals than those without canine companions.
• Pet companionship may provide important social support and is a powerful predictor of behavior changes that can lead to weight loss.
• Dogs can help with chronic conditions and prevent chronic disease.
• Pet ownership is an important form of social support that can benefit patients with heart disease or stroke.

Less stress with dogs:

• When we see, touch, hear or talk to our companion animals, we feel  goodwill, joy, nurturing and happiness. At the same time, stress hormones are suppressed.
• Studies show that the mere act of petting a dog decreases blood pressure.
• Having a pet can help increase fitness levels, relieve stress and boost overall happiness and well-being.
• Dogs help ease people out of isolation or shyness. Studies find that owning and walking a dog increases social interaction.

 Dogs, pet parents and the family:

• Dog-owning families often promote physical activity within the household.
• Dog parents are more likely to fit in the recommended level of physical activity than those who don’t have a dog

  Dog parents are 34% more likely to fit in 150 minutes of walking per week recommended by the AHA than non-dog owners.

• Dogs are always there to comfort you. They put a smile on your face every day.

Why do dogs make us happy?

It is no secret that dogs make us happy. Ask anyone who spends time with a pup on a regular basis and they will let you know just how much joy their tail-wagging companion delivers.

In fact, according to a Dog Parent Study conducted by BarkBox, 71 percent of dog parents believe that their dogs have made them happier people. Almost 80 percent find it easier to awake in the morning because their dogs greet them. And a whopping 93 percent of participants stated that they are better people overall because of their dogs.

But why exactly is this? Just how and why do dogs make us happy?

LOVE RULES

Dogs have served as man’s best friend and worked alongside us for thousands and thousands of years. The loyal companionship and unconditional love of dogs has been written about throughout human history.

Our canine buddies are always there for us, in good times and in bad. They are our friends when we are lonely and a reason to laugh when we are down. They are faithful, judgment-free sounding boards who we can play with, snuggle with, and – most importantly – be ourselves with.

Of the dog parents surveyed in BarkBox’s study, 85 percent revealed that their dogs have “helped them get through a difficult time in their life.”

Our four-legged friends teach us patience, compassion, generosity, and kindness. These are all qualities that carry over into our personal and professional lives, and make us better equipped to work and socialize with others.

A study published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology revealed that “pet owners exhibited greater self-esteem, were more physically fit, were less lonely, were more conscientious, were more socially outgoing, and had healthier relationship styles (i.e., they were less fearful and less preoccupied) than non-owners.”

Dogs inspire us to get outside and be more active, which can lead to increased mental well-being over time. One way to look at it is that dogs make us happy because they are the catalyst for other healthy behaviors in our lives.

DOGS, DEPRESSION AND VITAMIN D

Physical exercise causes the human body to release endorphins – chemicals that make us feel happy. Research has also found a possible link between a lack of vitamin D – obtained through sun exposure – and depression.

By walking our dogs or just spending time with them outside on a sunny day we are likely to become more content.

More than four in five of the Dog Parent Study participants indicated that having a dog has made them more active. 72 percent said that their exercise habits are influenced by their dog.

DOGS MAKE US HAPPY BECAUSE OF OXY-WHAT?

We know that unconditional love and increased physical activity can make people feel better. But what if we could prove scientifically that dogs make us happier?

Studies have shown that even small interactions with dogs cause the human brain to produce oxytocin, a hormone often referred to as the “cuddle chemical.” Oxytocin increases feelings of relaxation, trust, and empathy while reducing stress and anxiety.

That warm and fuzzy feeling you get when you cuddle with your pooch? Oxytocin!

Research published in the journal Science in 2015 reported that simply gazing into each other’s eyes causes a tremendous spike in oxytocin levels in both dogs and dog guardians.

“Of the duos that had spent the greatest amount of time looking into each other’s eyes, both male and female dogs experienced a 130 percent rise in oxytocin levels, and both male and female owners a 300 percent increase.”

Compiled  & Shared by- Team, LITD (Livestock Institute of Training & Development)

 Image-Courtesy-Google

 Reference-On Request.

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