There's a reason why you're saying "Awwww" just by looking at these pictures. Spending time with canine companions actually does wonders for your well-being. Recent research shows that owning a dog is good for you both physically and emotionally.
They can be there for you even when people can't. Who wouldn't mind some additional love, emotional support, and cuddles? These things are one of the best cures for isolation.
So it shouldn't be a surprise that an Australian study discovered that dog ownership reduces loneliness.
Owning a dog can also help you live longer. A comprehensive review of studies published between 1950 and 2019 found that dog owners had a lower risk of death. Data suggests that dog owners have lower blood pressure levels and improved responses to stress.
Even just living with a dog makes a difference—people who had experienced previous coronary events had an even higher level of risk reduction for death. Research has concluded that the bond between humans and dogs reduces stress, which is a major contributor to cardiovascular problems.
In fact, multiple studies show that dogs and therapy dogs help alleviate stress and anxiety.
Even the simple act of petting a familiar dog lowers blood pressure, heart rate, slows breathing, and relaxes muscle tension. Scientists at Washington State University discovered that just 10 minutes of petting a dog can have a significant impact (the participants in their study had a significant reduction in cortisol, a major stress hormone).
Dogs can help us recover from a major crisis. Purdue University’s College of Veterinary Medicine discovered that military veterans with PTSD do better both physiologically and psychologically when they have a service dog.
Veterans with a service dog had significantly fewer symptoms of PTSD and their coping skills improved.
As we mentioned while introducing this wholesome Twitter account, dogs encourage us to move. Those walks really do add up. A 2019 British study found that dog owners are nearly four times more likely than non-dog owners to meet daily physical activity guidelines.
Dog owners spend nearly 300 minutes every week walking with their pets. That’s 200 more minutes of walking than people without a pup of their own!
