My dog, Chipotle, and I.
Owning a dog can be an important part of a healthy lifestyle.
The health benefits of dog ownership are tremendous – and they’ve been getting quite a bit of coverage in recent news stories. We’ve known that dog ownership is linked with lower body weight, longevity and lower blood pressure – but, just recently, NBC Nightly News did a piece about therapy dogs being used to help depressed and overstressed law students. Law students are disproportionately affected by depression – and the simple act of petting a dog can make you feel good.
A recent study about pets, undertaken by physiologists at Miami University and Saint Louis University, was published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. The findings? Pet owners had greater self-esteem, were more fit, less lonely, more conscientious, more extroverted and less fearful.
In the first part of the study, researchers surveyed 217 people and found that pet owners were pet owners were happier, healthier and better adjusted than were non-owners. In the second part of the study, researchers discovered that dogs increased their owners’ feelings of belonging, self-esteem and of a meaningful existence. Lastly, pets were found to help their owners deal with feelings of rejection (take that, Ben & Jerry’s).
I rescued my adopted greyhound four years ago, but I always say that it is my dog who rescued me; I’m the lucky one. And as we learn more about the benefits of pet ownership, I can’t help but think that the $45 billion we spend on our dogs and cats each year is money well spent.
Best piece of advice i have heard so far! Waiting for a solution to take my head of my law books & get in the fresh air! Thanks Davey!
I didn’t quite ‘rescue’ mine. He was the pet of a friend who could no longer take care of him, so I took Mr. Bojangles into my home.
BEST.DECISION.EVER
He’s a mutt. We know the mother was a pit bull terrier but have no idea about the father. He’s 65 pounds. He sleeps next to my leg. Each morning the first thing I see is him creeping up from the foot of the bed to get some love.
He’s a great companion.
Hey Davey,
What a great article! Personally I’m a guinea pig fan, and have to say that owning these little critters has huge benefits too… OK, yes, the exercise part is zero (unless you include cleaning them out – phew!), but their companionship and antics lasts a life time
Kind regards,
Jamie. x
Why I have two dogs and two cats. Love em all to death.
i take Otis and Cassie out for a 1.5 mile walk everyday-i luv them-they are the beginning of my exercise regimen-everyday.
davey–not only do i like the article, but love your greyhound. i have been involved with dog rescue in general and greyhound and whippet rescue in particular for about 20 years now…for some reason, rescuing seems to do more in the way of pet benefits for me than just having a pet…the older of my whippets chose me and has been with me for almost 14 years now…
Very true article. My partner and I bought our first dog as soon as we got our own place. We had our Rottie (Depeche) for 2 years and then decided to get a second dog to keep her company so we took in a dog who was badly treated by his previous owners. He’s a Foxhound (Humbug) and now has a great life with two owners and his best buddy who go for walks in the local forests, bogs, lakes, hills and marina.
Can’t beat owning a dog they are just so full of love and when you have a really bad day they are there to make you forget all about it