8 Outstanding Health Benefits of Dog Ownership

Being a dog owner is really good for your health.

A growing body of research over the last 20 years has verified what dog lovers already know – people are happier and healthier when they share their lives with a dog. Recent research, conducted at Purdue University on the human-animal bond, animal companionship, happiness and pets, found that dog owners visit the doctor less often, have more fun and feel more happy than people who don’t have pets.

Here are 8 health benefits dogs bring to our lives.

1. Dogs uplift our mood

Like any enjoyable activity, playing with our dog elevates our serotonin and dopamine levels, which are mood boosters. What’s more, contact with friendly animals immediately increases our oxytocin levels, the feel-good hormone that lights up our brain’s pleasure centers. When we are going through a stressful time, people suffer less than those who don’t have a pet. A dog’s calming influence even works better at controlling high blood pressure than the most frequently prescribed medications.

2. Dogs help us get more exercise

Dog owners who walk their dogs on a regular basis are more active and less likely to be overweight than those who don’t own (or walk) a dog. Dog owners exert physical activity to care for their pets and get up more often to play, cuddle and be near them.

3. Dogs relieve isolation and loneliness

Your dog can help you make more human friends. Multiple studies have shown walking your dog in public (including a dog park) leads to more human conversations. People tend to assume a dog lover is a kind and approachable person. Dogs also give us direct social support. Some of the social support we get from humans we also get from dogs. For this reason, dog ownership is more common in married couples and families with children than single-person homes. Dogs are an extension of our natural support system, not a replacement for it.

4. Dogs help us manage our pain

Dog therapy is becoming an accepted form of pain management in hospitals and assisted living centers. People who use pet therapy while recovering from surgery or an injury require less than half of the pain medication than those who did not engage with pet therapy. Patients report significant improvements in pain, mood and other distress measurements including vital signs after a pet therapy session.

5. Dogs heal our heart – literally

While dogs can help us mend an emotionally broken heart, they also reduce our physical risk of cardiovascular disease and heart attacks. Researchers have found a reduced rate of systolic blood pressure, plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels in dog owners. And, if a pet owner does have a heart attack, owning a pet will increase the rate of recovery and reduce the risk of having another heart attack.

6. Dogs can sense changes in our body

Dogs can sniff and detect body changes – like a drop in blood glucose level in diabetics, breast and lung cancer and dogs can also sense the onset of an epileptic seizure. Some service animals are trained to warn their owners when a body change is imminent.

7. Dogs strengthen our immune system

In households with a dog, children have better school attendance, fewer allergies and are less likely to have eczema. Research shows people who live with a dog have higher levels of some immune system chemicals, which leads to a stronger overall immune system. Because we produce less cortisol and norepinephrine, which are harmful chemicals our bodies produce in response to stress, dogs help strengthen our immunity throughout our lifetime.

8. Dogs are innate child therapists

Interaction with a dog is hugely beneficial to children, especially those with developmental or mental health challenges. For example, children with autism are often more comfortable with a pet, which in turn helps them learn better social skills when interacting with their peers. Taking care of a pet can help children, especially those with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) learn how to focus their attention and teach them how to care for another living being.

Although being more healthy is a strong motivator for having a dog, bringing a dog into your family is a commitment that will last for many years, and you must be ready and willing to take on that responsibility. If you do, you will be richly rewarded with one of the most satisfying, loving and active relationships you’ll ever experience.

When the time comes for you to find a place for your dog to stay while you’re gone, we hope you’ll think of Canine Campus in Colorado Springs. We offer the utmost in comfort and care for your dog while you’re away. Learn more about our boarding services here. Call us today at 719-448-9600 to set up your reservation.