Devoted companionship. Unconditional love. Endless entertainment. Dogs can bring these beautiful things into our lives, and many dog lovers can attest that life is better with a dog. Despite thousands of years of evolution, humans have kept one animal close to itself, which is dogs.
Dogs are man’s best friend, and people have owned dogs since ancient times. Time and time again, dogs prove they are excellent additions to human lives as they can do wonders for our well-being. Dogs have been one of man’s most faithful companions for millennia, and it doesn’t look like things are going to change any time soon.
Let’s take a look at some of the reasons why they’re so popular and why you should get a dog of your own.
Dogs are the original man’s BFF
Dogs have been companions for humans since the beginning of civilization. It was discovered that Paleolithic humans were the first to tame dogs from the wild about 15,000 years ago, meaning that Stone Age men kept dogs. A child’s footprint walking alongside a dog’s paw print was seen in a cave in France, and it was dated 26,000 years old – suggesting that the dog and human bond may extend even farther back. Though their relationship may have been wild, it was the beginning of a friendship that would continue over thousands of years as dogs became domesticated into the pets we know today.
Unless your best friend also happens to be a dog, we know that every two people eventually differ on what they want to do, places they want to go, the food they want to eat, or a movie to watch on Netflix. But dogs – they will not resist. If you suddenly want to go for a run, they’ll be with you guarding you on the way. If you want to drive, your dog will gladly come. If you’re going to lounge on the couch and check out a random movie on Netflix, your dog will be down for it, too.
Dogs offer companionship
In today’s busy, fast-paced world, having someone by your side every moment is impossible. But when you have a dog in your life, you’ll never be alone. Most dogs see their owners as the beginning and end of their world. It’s a great feeling to receive an enthusiastic greeting when you return from a hard day at the office or to have someone who looks forward to walking with you. And with their loving, googly eyes, you will surely feel special. They’re never too busy for a game or a cuddle, and they’re always there as a source of comfort when you’re down.
Dogs make excellent companions for elderly people who would otherwise live alone as their life partners were already dead and their children had left the nest. Likewise, they’re also excellent companions to single people who are socially isolated.
Dogs can help lower blood pressure and stress levels.
Owning a dog can have numerous health benefits, both physical and mental. Studies have shown that dog owners have lower blood pressure and are less likely to suffer from depression.
One of the fantastic benefits of dogs is their ability to make us feel calm. Dog owners have lower blood pressure due to increased exercise and the happiness they offer as pets. It’s no surprise that dogs give that warm, fuzzy feeling to humans, and it causes us to calm down and stop stressing out. Dogs can help increase levels of oxytocin (happy hormones) and reduce levels of cortisol (stress hormones) in the body. So if you’re always feeling stressed out, give your dog some TLC, and you’ll both benefit!
Dogs make you exercise more
Dogs need regular exercise, which means you’ll likely be more active too. The best thing is you’ll increase the activity you do regularly without you even noticing it! Motivating ourselves to get out of the house and move may be difficult, and a dog can help with that. Whether it’s going for walks, playing fetch, or taking hikes, having a dog can be a great motivator to get moving. All those strolls in the park, walk in the block, and adventures in the woods will add up.
Walking will help lower the risk of cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes. It also lowers the risk of obesity and improves gut health!
Dogs can make you more immune to diseases and help you recover from illnesses
A dog can also help protect you from disease. Owning a dog reduces your risk of getting asthma or a cold. Surprisingly, the dust in houses with dogs enables you to become immune to allergies.
Also, dog owners usually have a stronger immune system, as their pets help them stay well and spend less time recovering from sickness and bugs. Dog owners tend to visit the doctor less frequently than non-dog owners and are less likely to be on meds. Dog owners also have higher survival rates after a heart attack.
Dogs can detect major diseases
Perhaps the most surprising benefit of having a dog is that they can detect if there’s something wrong in our bodies because of their extraordinary sense of smell. There are numerous studies about how dogs seem able to detect the slightest signs of major illnesses like cancer and diabetes and epileptic fits way before they become obvious. They might lick a specific spot on your body repeatedly. When dogs do this, you should not ignore such behavior as they might be a cancerous cell growth in that spot.
Dogs can act as playmates for your kid
Children and dogs go together like peas and carrots. They can keep each other amused for hours. Getting a dog is the perfect fix if you want to get your kid off the couch and out into the garden. Unlike other more exotic pets, dogs are easy to care for and please. All they need is enough food and water, a warm place to sleep, and infrequent visits to the veterinarian for their shots.
Besides teaching your children responsibility, dogs make great companions and playmates for an only child, helping alleviate feelings of boredom or loneliness.
Dogs teach children responsibility and valuable skills
Owning a dog can help teach responsibility, particularly to children. It requires feeding, grooming, training, and regular exercise, all of which can help kids develop important life skills. Having a dog in your house ensures that everybody learns about basic things related to caring for another living being.
Dog owners know that training dogs to develop their good traits requires time, effort, and patience, which are all things useful for all aspects of our lives.
Dogs provide protection and security
Dogs can provide a sense of security and protection, particularly if you live alone or in an area with high crime rates. Burglars avoid houses with large dogs and give small yappy dogs a wide berth. With their superior sense of smell, hearing, and sight, dogs are an excellent first defense against intruders.
With their superior sense of smell, hearing, and sight, dogs are an excellent first defense against intruders. If someone is daring enough to break into your house while you’re at home, you can count on your dog to defend you as best they can. If there’s no one home, a barking dog raises the alarm for neighbors to check if everything’s okay.
Keeping your dog close can help you feel safe in ordinary situations, like jogging or driving at night.
Dogs make you more social
Dogs can do wonders for your social life, too. With a canine companion, you become more approachable, as your dog gives people a conversation starter. Dogs give you an excuse to walk up to another dog owner and converse. Everyone feels lonely or left out once in a while, and dogs make sure that you can make some new friends.
Dogs allow you to get to know strangers and form new friendships easier than when you’re alone. Also, you can be a part of a huge community of dog lovers if you own a dog.
Dogs help you become more attractive
Who knew dogs could be excellent wingmen? If you’re looking for someone to date, it might be time to get a dog. A dog’s presence in your life may make you appear more likable and attractive. Having a puppy with you in your profile picture makes you seem friendly and even happier.
A series of studies revealed that men were more likely to get a woman’s phone number if they had a dog with them. Another study that asked individuals to rate people’s photos revealed that people seemed to look happier and more relaxed when they appeared with a dog.
Maybe there’s something about their cute faces or cuddly personalities – but whatever it is, the next time you’re looking for a date, bring a dog with you!
Dogs can make you laugh and boost your mood
Dogs are fun to be with. All of us have probably seen videos of dogs being silly and funny. If seeing it on video can make you happy, then how will it compare to having it happen in front of your eyes? Dogs can be a big source of happiness and laughter – no pet can make you laugh as much as a dog.
And as dogs can cause bouts of laughter to burst out of you, it boosts your mood and helps alleviate stress in the process. Playing with a dog can release endorphins, which can improve your overall sense of well-being.
Dogs can help you cope with crisis
Dogs can help you psychologically by helping you recover from a crisis. A study found that military veterans with PTSD can experience improvement in their psychological and physiological health when they have a service dog. Veterans with a service dog tended to have fewer symptoms of PTSD and show improved coping skills more than those who do not own a dog.
The mood-altering benefits of dogs are so well-known that trained animals are now used as therapy animals to combat panic attacks in people with high anxiety or PTSD. Thanks to their mood-boosting abilities, dogs help to comfort you when you’re ill or in pain.
Dogs give unconditional love
Dogs are known for their unconditional love and devotion to their owners. Seeing their love is easy as they excitedly wag and bark happily when we come home. Scientists have proven that dogs love us back the same way we have that love by scanning their brains in an MRI machine. Dogs wiggle not just because they are excited about food but because they want to be with you (though it’s probably safe to assume that food is a part of it).
They can provide a sense of comfort and support during difficult times, and their affection can be a constant source of joy and happiness. They give us a sense of well-being, thanks to the unconditional love they give, making them great company and comfort for people who crave love.
Conclusion
Dogs are fun and amazing – nothing beats a long walk with your furry friend on a fresh spring morning. Seeing the joy on their faces when you get home or when they pick up a ball and know it’s playtime is priceless. Even relaxing or sitting together feels better.
So if you’re already convinced that you should own a dog, start looking! When you take care of them, you’ll have a loyal and funny companion in the house. They will repay the love you give them tenfold.
But before you adopt a dog, make sure you can care for it. Taking care of a dog is hard work, and you’ll need to spare some of your budgets for their food, veterinary visits, and other things they would need to live a healthy and happy life. Once you’re sure you have the time, energy, and lifestyle to add a dog to your life, do your research about the best dog breeds and personalities that best fit your household.