Dogs Encourage Better Health

1329 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: benefit of keeping a pet

The young royals, Prince William and Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton, created headlines last week by revealing the name of their new puppy. Not mentioned in the multitude of stories is how the dog’s presence can affect the health of the future King and Queen. The latest addition to the Royal family, Lupo a four-month-old black cocker spaniel, is an ideal choice of pet for more than his inability to inherit the throne. Medical studies around the world have concluded dogs encourage better health, and adopting a dog statistically boosts the life expectancy of the monarchial pair. Not only is a dog man’s best friend, but Rover’s presence could be better than an apple a day for you.

Dog owners worldwide enjoy longer lifespans on average, and the company a canine provides makes those extra years of life more gratifying. Positive health attributes dogs afford remain a constant for young and elderly alike, including weight maintenance, reduced blood pressure, as well as improved cardiovascular fitness. The benefits of owning a dog are not limited to the physical. People with pets enjoy superior self-esteem, while suffering less depression due to an optimistic mindset that companionship with animals engenders. The variety of sizes, temperaments, exercise needs, and breed peculiarities make dogs as versatile as a Swiss Army knife, and thus accessible to all.

Medical and academic institutions proffer statistics that support a notion of the dog owner as a more active and happier individual. A 2007 study by Queen's University Belfast compiled and analyzed global research data, confirming the science behind dog aficionados leading healthier lives. Published in the British Journal of Health Psychology, their analysis stressed regular w...

... middle of paper ...

...iety and making them aware of the temporary fixation. The heartening stories of these special dogs are legion.

I find myself to be anecdotal evidence. Every day at noon, Sultan, a black Labrador, fetches me (including weekends, refusing to acknowledge the concept of a day off) for a daily walk. At that point, I dutifully stop whatever I am doing to indulge in an invigorating break outdoors for my body and mind. The walk usually lasts 30 minutes, encompassing hills and the occasional rabbit or squirrel chase. The routine has become my reset button, and I return to my desk refreshed by a sense of serenity only afforded by nature.

Even if scientific proof were lacking, people intuitively understand the benefits dogs have on their human companions. As author and essayist Gene Hill insightfully quipped, "Whoever said you can't buy happiness forgot little puppies."

Show More
Related

  • Police Canine Research Paper

    577 Words  | 2 Pages

    I’ve always felt that animals are the purest spirits in the world. They don’t fake or hide their feelings, and they are the most loyal creatures on Earth and somehow we humans think we’re smarter. I chose this topic about the canine because, some of these canines risk their life’s to protect dog’s best friend.

    Read More

  • The Effect of Dog Assisted Therapy on Elderly Patients with Dementia

    570 Words  | 2 Pages

    Several studies have examined the effects of dog ownership on people's physical and mental health. Dog ownership produces considerable health benefit and provides social support that encourages dog owners to walk (Cutt et al.2007 ). Pet owners appear to have lower systolic blood pressure and blood cholesterol levels(Anderson et al 1992). Pet owners with serious mental illness living in the community demonstrate higher social community integration(Zimalog and Krupa 2009). Socially excluded participants who performed in the presence of a dog report higher mental well-being compared with socially excluded participants who did not work in the presence of a dog (Nilüfer et al 2012). Although there is evidence suggesting that dog ownership can improve people's physical and mental health, there is little research documenting the psychological and behavioral effects of dog-assisted therapy, especially on elderly patients with dementia, who have dif...

    Read More

  • Are Dogs Getting the Attention They Deserve?

    1033 Words  | 3 Pages

    People are beginning to take dogs for granted. They feel that it is just an animal with no feelings and don’t consider what kind of role a dog really ...

    Read More

  • The History and Evolution of Dogs

    2347 Words  | 5 Pages

    Dogs are common throughout the world, either as a domestic pet, a protector on a farm, or an assistant for hunting amongst others. Regardless of the reason for having a dog, most people have either owned one for themselves or have known somebody who has owned one at some point in their life. Despite the relative normality of having a dog in your life in one way or another, the reasons for dogs coming into existence are not common knowledge among most people. Throughout a great portion of mankind’s history, dogs have been an essential part of life. The truth is, dogs were actually created in part by man.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Service Animals

    1369 Words  | 3 Pages

    Our current society is a busy one; busy enough that having the time to exercise is a difficult task for many. However, animals, especially dogs, can function as personal trainers: motivating you to go for a walk or run due to their crucial need to release energy. A dog owner who is “responsible for walking their pups… [is] less likely to be obese than dog owners who pass the duty off to someone else or those who don 't own dogs at all” (McCandless). With the inspiration from their pets, even the busiest person will be able to gain their recommended thirty minutes of exercise a day in order to stay healthy. A furry friend may carry thousands of bacteria and allergens, but the exposure of infants to these microbes “can actually influence children’s immune development while reducing the probability of certain allergic diseases” (Borreli). Adults also benefit from contact with the allergens carried on household animals through the reduction of the effects of pet allergies that comes with exposure. Although an individual may not have certain life-threatening diseases at the present time, owning a pet will help increase exercise and boost the immune system in order to prevent future health

    Read More

  • We Need Dog Parks

    716 Words  | 2 Pages

    Having a dog can be a great experience for people who enjoy their company. These animals are usually friendly and active; they are intelligent and can develop a strong relationship with their owners based on love and care. However, having dogs is a big responsibility for the person who owns them, because they are animals, so they cannot support themselves. Dogs need someone who can feed them, give them love, and someone who can help them exercise. Moreover, these animals need big spaces in order to run and develop their muscles, so the owner has to know that he needs to take a walk with the dog several times a day.

    Read More

  • Furry Friends: Why Owning a Dog is a Positive Thing

    862 Words  | 2 Pages

    Thesis Statement: While most owners are aware of the amount of joy and laughter dogs bring to them and their family, they are unaware that their dogs love them unconditionally and can help them have better lives

    Read More

  • Aussie Pooch Marketing Case Study

    1899 Words  | 4 Pages

    From the Australia’s population of 19.387 million (2001) 40% which is 7.4 million households owned at least one dog. There ...

    Read More

  • Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT)

    2692 Words  | 6 Pages

    Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT), which can be provided in a group or individual settings, is designed to promote improvement in a human’s physical, social, emotional, or cognitive function. An article by Chitic, Rusu, and Szamoskozi (2012) provides an analysis in order to determine the value of AAT. Both dogs and horses that were trained for AAT were examined and studied to determine their effectiveness in treating patients with psychological disorders. The results showed that both therapy dogs and horses were valuable aids to the therapeutic process. The analysis suggests that proper training and repeated sessions were necessary for proper treatment of patients. In addition, certain disorders may benefit more than others in regards to AAT. For example, a child with ADHD may not benefit from a therapy dog’s presence, for it may worsen the hyperactive symptoms. On the other hand, a patient with depression may benefit greatly from the same animal (Chitic, Rusu, Szamoskozi, 2012). These findings are a perfect starting point to answering the research question: Do patients who engage in AAT display a betterment in their overall emotional well-being, as well as show improvement in their interpersonal interactions...

    Read More

  • The Many Benefits of Pet Ownership

    953 Words  | 2 Pages

    Owning a pet can have many physical and mental health benefits. Medical studies show having a pet result's in lower blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and triglyceride levels. Pets have a role in cardiovascular health from lowering blood pressure, and they encourage psychosocial stability in owners, which further reduces the risk of heart disease. In the hectic and fast-paced world we live in today, pets are actually saving our lives. Pets provide an excuse to be active, dogs live an active lifestyle, wanting to play and run around outside. By making us more active and improving our health, dogs often provide a good workout! Instead of sitting on the couch being lazy, dogs are eager to transfer their energy and enthusiasm to the owner benefiting both dog and owner in many ways. Studies show that dogs demonstrate trust and provide comfort to the sick or elderly thus helping people to live longer and to be more positive as they age. Animal owners over 75 years of age have f...

    Read More

  • Pet Therapy Essay

    1032 Words  | 3 Pages

    Over 71 million American households (62%) have a pet, and most people think of their pets as members of the family. Some research studies have found that people who have a pet have healthier hearts, stay home sick less often, make fewer visits to the doctor, get more exercise, and are less depressed. Pets may also have a significant impact on allergies, asthma, social support, and social interactions with other people (Casciotti) .

    Read More

  • How Dogs Are More Loyal Than Humans

    1404 Words  | 3 Pages

    Dogs are wonderful creatures. They are loyal, dependable companions if given the opportunity. In recent years I have come to the opinion that we could learn something from these animals. We should also take a look at the manner in which they are being treated. Abandonment, irresponsible breeding, and neglect are only some of the ways that humans are failing the canine species.

    Read More

  • The Secret to Happiness

    454 Words  | 1 Pages

    Owning a pet will lengthen your life. People who have the responsibility of the care of an animal

    Read More

  • The Advantages of Keeping pets

    444 Words  | 1 Pages

    Would you like to live a happy and productive life? Then get pets! I must admit it is hard to believe that domesticated animals can promote mental and physical health, but many studies have shown that they can. People who own pets have been known to lead longer and happier lives than those without them. As we get older, we become less active. The more inactive we become, the higher our risk of death. We therefore need something in our lives to keep us busy so we don’t die prematurely, and a pet is just the thing to do it. This is probably because of the companionship, exercise, and responsibility that they provide. On the other hand, you must find a pet that is compatible with you or with your life style. Maintaining good mental health is crucial for living a normal life.

    Read More

  • Creation of an Online Pet Shop

    2511 Words  | 6 Pages

    Nowadays, people are busy in their daily life and having a lot of stress from their working area. Most of them would like to have a pet to accompany them in their daily life and also can release the stress that they received. For example, having a dog is a good choice for most people who want to have a pet. Dog not only a very good companions and also having deep emotional tie between people. Dogs will protect the people with literally lay down their lives.

    Read More

More about Dogs Encourage Better Health

Open Document