The Benefits of Having a Dog

Having a furry friend is good for your mental health, as they can help with feelings of anxiety and depression. Support dogs have become quite a common sight in the UK after first increasing in popularity in the USA. In fact, science backs up claims that even watching a video of a pooch can help to improve your mood!

In 2019,  a study was carried out where participants filled out a form at the beginning of the experiment which related to their mood and anxiety. They then had different levels of contact with house-trained pups. Some watched a video, while others got to directly interact with them. Everybody in the study reported positive benefits, but the group who were able to physically touch the dogs reported the greatest increase in mood and reduction in anxiety.

Scientific journal, Frontiers in Veterinary Science, also published findings that a strong bond with a canine companion was found to benefit those with depression and anxiety. The only potential drawback was that the pressure of dog ownership of the eventual loss of the pet could cause increased anxiety, but it indicated that more studies would have to be done on this to find out if it was the case.

Overall, it seems that scientists agree that being around dogs is beneficial to us.

One of the greatest benefits of dogs is that they get us moving and help us avoid being too sedentary – which is especially important with the rise of remote working. Walking and increasing your heart rate every day is an important part of staying fit and healthy – not to mention the release of mood-boosting endorphins you’ll get!

It’s easy to let a little drizzle stop you from getting up and moving, but when you have a doe-eyed pup wanting their walkies, you’re far more likely to head out. In fact, a study found that dog owners were much more likely to reach the weekly recommended guidelines for physical activity just from their daily walks.

While there are benefits to owning dogs, you don’t have to be exempt from all of these if you aren’t able to have your own.

Even just stroking a dog can have a profound impact on your health. In fact, a study in the Journal of Behavioural Medicine looked at the cardiovascular effects of interactions with four-legged friends, and found that physical touch had the most prominent effect on participants’ heart rates compared to visual or verbal contact.

Additionally, petting a dog is known to reduce cortisol in the body, which can help to reduce stress and improve immunity. Although prolonged contact with a pooch is going to be the most effective way to reduce your cortisol levels, simply spending time around a pooch can have an impact.

There are lots of ways you can have contact with pups without having to own one yourself. Lots of exercise and meditation classes host dog and puppy parties, so you can benefit from them as part of a self-care session. There are also apps that allow you to borrow dogs and spend time with them, which can, in turn, help a busy family or an elderly owner who might not be able to walk or spend as much time with their pet as they would like.

If you have the spare time, most dog rehoming charities struggle to give their residents the exercise they need and are always looking for volunteer doggy walkers or people who can sit and cuddle their older pups who are missing their home comforts. There are always plenty of ways to help out, while also improving your own health and wellbeing.

There are so many positives to owning a dog. From love and companionship, to keeping you active and healthy – bringing a dog into your life might be the perfect thing for you! If you are considering becoming a pup parent, there are some essentials you should make sure to have ready, so explore our range today to stock up on all of the doggy essentials for your new best friend!