What you assumed: having a dog is good for everything. He makes you happy, he pampers you, he keeps you company, he takes care of you… but also having him by your side is beneficial for your health. We tell you why owning a pet is the best thing you can do.
The benefits of having a dog
- First, dog owners tend to lead more active lives than non-pet owners. Researchers from the University of East Anglia and the Center for Diet and Activity Research at the University of Cambridge have found that those unlucky enough to have a four-legged friend are sedentary for 30 more minutes a day on average than those unlucky enough to have a four-legged friend. Who are dog owners? In addition, a study in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health highlights that this phenomenon increases even more during the winter months.
- Going for a walk with a dog keeps you active, which reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease. Dog walks satisfy the needs of your most faithful friend, but also yours because you will feel much more motivated to get up from the sofa.
- Also, according to a study published in JAMA Pediatrics, early childhood exposure to dogs and farm animals is associated with a decreased risk of childhood asthma. Although it is detailed that this association is not clear and that previous investigations have yielded contrary results, it is explained that children under one year of age who are in contact with dogs have a 13% lower risk of suffering from this disease.
- On the other hand, and according to research from the University at Buffalo, pets can help control blood pressure better than some medications. For this study, the constants of a group of pet-owning hypertensive stockbrokers were compared with those of others without dogs or cats. It was shown that those who live with animals face moments of stress in a more stable way.
- But your dog can also take away work anxiety. Can you imagine taking your pet to work every day? Many companies advocate allowing them in offices because they increase the performance of their workers but, more importantly, they make employees feel less stressed. In addition, multiple investigations demonstrate the important work that animals can do in therapies in hospitals and schools.
- On the other hand, there are trained dogs that are able to detect before the person himself when he has very low or high sugar levels, which can be especially important in the case of suffering from some type of diabetes. The help of dogs to cure and accompany different types of diseases is more than proven.
- Spending some quality time with your pet can be a great way to get away from the problems you’ve had to deal with during the day. Tensions and a bad mood will go away faster when your mind forgets the difficulties and focuses on enjoying your pet’s games. It is indisputable that their friendship makes their owners happy, because after all, who does not like to be received with that sincere joy when they get home after work. Dogs are the best companions to avoid loneliness. They give you all their love without expecting anything in return, without asking you for explanations and without taking the past into account.
- Even having dogs is good for your social life, with the psychological benefits that this brings. Thanks to your pet you will meet other people with the same interests as you, like the owners of other dogs. The little ones in the house will also learn to be responsible and relate to other creatures in the world.