8 Science-Based Benefits of Owning a Dog

Benefits Of Having A Dog

Did you know research suggests that dog owners may be more likely to live longer than people without dogs?¹ Read on for eight benefits our furry friends may provide.

Key Takeaways:

  • Multiple studies have connected dog ownership with longer lifespans.
  • Owning a dog may help people stay active and safe.
  • Dogs may also support our mental health, whether through their companionship, the social interaction we may get while walking them, or by triggering the release of positive hormones in our bodies. 
  • In turn, we can support our dog's health by giving them a loving home, frequent exercise, a balanced diet, and science-backed supplements.

 

See Related: Anandamide: What Are the Benefits of This Cannabinoid?

The Health Benefits of Having a Dog

Pet ownership isn't just fun. It can be very beneficial for our mental and physical wellness. 

You might be aware of how useful dogs can be. Therapy dogs help provide comfort to those in need of it.² Service dogs go through rigorous training to best help their owners, whether that be retrieving items or detecting health issues.³

But your canine companion doesn't need to be a professional to provide you with health benefits. Owning a dog is potentially connected with all kinds of health changes, both mental and physical.

Physical Health Benefits

If you're a dog owner, you can probably empathize with the following: It's raining, cold, dark, and all you want to do is curl up on the sofa... but your furry friend is demanding a walk. 

Hey, they never said pet ownership would always be easy! As much as we pet owners might occasionally wish we could skip a walk, getting regular exercise isn't just crucial for our pups. It can significantly improve our physical health, too.

person walking dog blood pressure relieve stress veterinary medicine companion animals blood sugar heart disease mental illness

#1. Get Moving

Research suggests that dog owners are more likely to be physically active than non-dog owners. One review of 49 studies, for example, concluded that pet owners engaged in physical activity far more often than people without pets.

You probably know how important physical activity is for our overall health. Regular exercise can help us maintain a healthy weight, for example, which is crucial for overall wellness. That's why some experts recommend we try to get about 150 minutes of physical activity every week.

According to one study, dog owners were four times more likely to meet that guideline compared to non-dog owners. Another study found that dog owners were up to 77% more likely to achieve "sufficient physical activity." 

Bonus: 10 Signs Your Dog Needs Probiotics

#2. Heart Health

Physical activity is vital for maintaining heart health. Owning a dog may therefore help us keep our hearts in good shape.

Research has suggested a possible association between dog ownership and lower blood pressure, for example. A systematic review of 10 studies with almost 4 million participants concluded that dog ownership resulted in people being 31% less likely to die of cardiovascular issues.

Another study concluded that dog owners who'd suffered a heart attack had a 33% lower death rate after the heart attack, compared to those without a dog.

#3. Keeping You Safe

For thousands of years, dogs were often tasked with the very important job of protecting people and property. Guard dogs are still used widely around the world.

But your pup doesn't need to be a trained guard to potentially help keep you safe. Research suggests that dog barking may help deter crimes like burglaries.¹⁰ One study found that dog ownership was associated with lower levels of property crime.¹¹ Dogs have an extremely keen sense of smell and hearing, so they may be able to detect threats you aren't aware of.

Just having your furry friend around, whether in the home or out at the park, can put your mind at ease.

couple cuddling dog healthy owning family anxiety unconditional love well being less stress lower risk life

Mental Well-Being Benefits

In fact, dogs may provide plenty of mental health benefits to their owners. We've already hinted at some. Exercise, for example, is connected with better mental health outcomes, so those dog walks may bring mental health benefits as well as physical health benefits.¹² 

That's just the start of the mental health benefits dogs may bring.

#4. Manage Stress

According to one study, the very act of petting a dog stimulates the part of the brain responsible for regulating emotions. Research suggests petting a dog can lower the stress hormone cortisol and boost the feel-good hormone oxytocin.¹³

In fact, one study from Japan even found that staring into your dog's eyes can raise oxytocin levels! ¹⁴

Research also suggests dogs are closely attuned to our mental health. They can detect when we are stressed or upset.

To help your pup cope with normal stress, consider treating them to supplements. Multiple studies have demonstrated that CBD can promote relaxation in dogs. There are plenty of ways to get your dog their dose of CBD: in a delicious calming treat, mixing CBD oil in their food, or with a spritz of our Quick Calm Spray.

#5. Reduce Loneliness

Dogs are called man's best friend for good reason. They provide emotional support, love, and more. Research suggests they can help reduce loneliness.

For example, one study found that pet parents who adopted a dog had lower loneliness levels after eight months compared to a control group of non-dog owners.¹⁵ The companionship dogs provide may be particularly helpful for older adults living alone.¹⁶

person with dog life anxiety age breed depression happiness playing relationships kids volunteering puppy life risk humans healthy

#6. Socializing

Additionally, dogs may also offer us social support.¹⁷  One study found that pet ownership is associated with more frequent social interactions.¹⁸ For example, dog owners may go on walks or visit parks, which in turn may provide a sense of social support.¹⁹ 

#7. Coping With Crises

In moments of crisis, having a trained service dog can be crucial. One study found that military veterans suffering from PTSD reported fewer symptoms when they had a service dog.²⁰

#8. Boosting Mood

According to Harvard Medical School, research suggests dogs can help us be calmer, mindful, and present.²¹ No wonder, if just looking at our furry friends can release oxytocin!

smiling vet with dog cats other studies humans family animals healthy taking care feeding bond diabetes

Conclusion

Dogs can provide all kinds of health benefits, both physical and mental. In turn, it's our responsibility as pet parents to ensure their mental and physical wellness is supported.

Keep Reading: Why is My Dog Losing Hair in Patches?

Sources

  1. Dog People Live Longer. But Why?
  2. What Do Therapy Dogs Actually Do?
  3. What Kind of Training do Service Dogs Get?
  4. Pet’s influence on humans’ daily physical activity and mental health: a meta-analysis
  5. American Heart Association Recommendations for Physical Activity in Adults and Kids
  6. Dog owners are more likely to meet physical activity guidelines than people without a dog: An investigation of the association between dog ownership and physical activity levels in a UK community | Scientific Reports
  7. Understanding Dog Owners’ Increased Levels of Physical Activity: Results From RESIDE - PMC
  8. Dog Ownership and Survival | Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes
  9. Man's best (health) friend - Harvard Health
  10. Will Your Dog Prevent A Burglary?
  11. Can Dogs Take Bite Out of Neighborhood Crime? | Department of Statistics and Data Sciences
  12. Pet’s influence on humans’ daily physical activity and mental health: a meta-analysis - PMC
  13. Man's best (health) friend - Harvard Health
  14. Dog's gaze at its owner increases owner's urinary oxytocin during social interaction - PubMed
  15. Pet’s influence on humans’ daily physical activity and mental health: a meta-analysis - PMC
  16. A Longitudinal Study of the Relation between Acquiring a Dog and Loneliness in
  17. An Experience Sampling Approach to Investigating Associations between Pet Presence and Indicators of Psychological Wellbeing and Mood in Older Australians: Anthrozoös
  18. Pet ownership, loneliness, and social isolation: a systematic review - PMC
  19. Physical, social, and psychological characteristics of community-dwelling elderly Japanese dog and cat owners - PMC
  20. The effect of a service dog on salivary cortisol awakening response in a military population with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - ScienceDirect
  21. Get Healthy, Get a Dog: The health benefits of canine companionship - Harvard Health

 

Earth Buddy is an environmentally conscious and family-owned company dedicated to providing natural solutions for pets. From our CBD oils to our natural colostrum supplements, our products are designed to promote calmness and encourage relaxation for our furry friends. To learn more and stay connected, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and Pinterest.

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