“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.” —Josh Billings

If you are a dog owner, you have a chance to live life to the fullest, my friend.

Dogs are incredible creatures, able to brighten up even the hardest days, offering loyalty and unconditional love at all times. There is a reason why canines are known as our best friends.

There are multiple reasons, to be frank, and here are some of them:

1. Owning a dog has numerous health benefits, including a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and allergies, reduced asthma risk, and a longer life span. Researchers at the International Clinical Research Center at St. Anne’s University Hospital in Brno conducted a study that evaluated the effects of having a dog on our health and found that dog owners enjoy numerous health benefits.

Andrea Maugeri, Ph.D., a researcher with the International Clinical Research Center at St. Anne’s University Hospital in Brno explains: “In general, people who owned any pet were more likely to report more physical activity, better diet, and blood sugar at an ideal level. The greatest benefits from having a pet were for those who owned a dog, independent of their age, sex and education level.”

2. Dogs relieve tension and boost mood, as playtime spent with them increases the levels of serotonin and dopamine, neurotransmitters that create emotional stability and well-being.

3. Dogs see us as family. A study conducted by cognitive scientists at Emory University placed dogs under an MRI machine. Before the brain scans, they were presented with different odors, some from other dogs, some from food, and some from their human friends.

Findings revealed that dogs recognized and prioritized their relationships with their owners, as their brain’s reward centers lit up most when presented with their companions’ scents.

4. Dogs boost our happiness, through the unconditional love they express to us and the positivity they spread around.

5. Dogs have been found to lower depression and anxiety rates in the elderly. A study that involved 56 residents from two suburban Maryland nursing homes showed that dogs increase the duration and frequency of socialization behaviors and reduce aggression and agitation in Alzheimer’s patients.

6. The sharp instincts of dogs and their loyalty offer us protection from any harm. In various dangerous situations, they will put their life on the line for their human companions.

7. Dogs are used in therapy to help people through mental health conditions, to assist them in the case of fatal health illnesses, to guide the blind, and to help war-scarred veterans heal their traumas.

Dogs play a much more active role in our lives than we think.

As Roger Caras, a photographer and writer, said:

“Dogs are not our whole life, but they make our lives whole.”

They make us better, emotionally, physically, and mentally. These loving, caring, and selfless creatures are ecstatic to have us as their owners and friends.

They cherish every moment of the day and live life with great enthusiasm. Therefore, they inspire us to live a better life and show us how to appreciate each and every moment of it. Dogs teach us to understand the simplicity of life, so learn to enjoy life with them.

Be the kind of person your dog thinks you are.

Sources:
iheartintelligence.com
livelongandpawspurr.com
www.huffpost.com