My husband and I recently got a puppy! She’s a Springer Spaniel and her name is Whiskey (pictured below). Since getting her, I’ve felt a bit different: just holding her makes me happier, not to mention the impact it has had on my conscientiousness! It got me wondering…is there some truth to this “dogs are good for you” talk?
For starters, dog owners are more likely to meet physical activity guidelines due to the need to walk and play with their pets. An article on Pets for Patriots notes that: “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” (Pets for Patriots, 2017).
Pets can also provide unconditional love and a sense of companionships, which can be beneficial for your social wellbeing. One study found that of dog owners, “85 percent revealed that their dogs have “helped them get through a difficult time in their life” (Pets for Patriots, 2017). Dogs are truly great friends: they listen, are patient and are steadfast.
Owning a dog requires you to establish some semblance of routine and structure, which can be beneficial for your mental health and overall sense of responsibility. Establishing a sense of conscientiousness is one of the many benefits of owning a dog—a habit that can be drawn into other aspects of life!
Plays with pets, petting them and holding them can lead to the release of “feel-good” neurotransmitters such as oxytocin and dopamine, which promotes a sense of wellbeing. “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” (Pets for Patriots, 2017). Through the release of these positive neurotransmitters, there is some data that suggests that dogs have been shown to lower cortisol levels and promote relaxation: “studies at the University of New York found that people experienced lower levels of stress when conducting a stressful assignment when they had a pet with them. Studies in workplaces have also shown that taking dogs to work lowers your stress, improves your recovery after challenges and even increases positive social interactions” (Psychology Today, 2018).
Dogs have also been shown to lower your levels of depression, anxiety and improve your overall mood: “study after study has shown that owning a pet can help you to maintain a more positive, optimistic perspective on life and what you’re faced with” (Psychology Today, 2018).
Meet our now 4.5 month old puppy Whiskey (pictured above)!
