Is getting a dog good for your health?

Short answer: Yes

Longer answer: I've put together my 10 top reasons why I think owning a dog is one of the best things you can do for your health

1. Increased physical activity: Dog owners often engage consistently in physical activities like walking or running. These activities can improve cardiovascular health and help maintain a healthy weight. Below is a screenshot from my own apple watch data showing my average step count over the past year as a dog owner of 2 very active spaniels - I hit that golden '10,000 steps' on almost a daily basis without having to motivate myself - my dogs do that for me!

2. Reduced stress levels: Interaction with dogs has been shown to lower cortisol levels and increase oxytocin, which helps reduce stress and promote relaxation. This profound effect is why therapy dogs (and other animals) are so popular today. There are several theories as to how interacting with dogs provide this stress reduction and they include:

• They provide non judgemental social support

• Boost positive emotions

• Offer a calming presence

• Provide tactile comfort - they enjoy being petted and stroked. This calming touch is more socially acceptable with animals than with people.
  

3. Improved heart health: Studies indicate that dog owners tend to have lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke and all cause mortality.

4. Enhanced social interactions/reduced loneliness: Dogs can provide this in two ways. Primarily they can provide company and social support themselves through daily interactions with their owner and the formation of the human-animal bond. However they can also facilitate human-human interactions. Studies have found that being accompanied by a dog outdoors will increase the frequency of positive social interactions. This is something I experience on a daily basis. When out dog walking I engage in a lot of friendly chat with fellow dog owners when out and about.

5. Boosted Immune System: Exposure to dogs, especially in early childhood, can enhance the immune system and reduce the likelihood of allergies and asthma.

6. Better mental health: Dogs provide companionship that can help reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, offering emotional support and reducing feelings of isolation.

7. Structured routine: Caring for a dog establishes a daily schedule and provides a sense of purpose. For me, this was especially significant during the COVID-19 lockdowns when many routines were disrupted. Having two dogs at home maintained a consistent routine: breakfast at 8 AM, outdoor exercise through walks with the dogs, and dinner by 6 PM - or else!

8. Get outdoors more: Time in nature is a wonderful thing for the mind and body. Owning a dog means that rain or shine you will be getting out in nature on a daily basis. And regardless of if the sun is shining or not, exposing yourself to natural daylight (especially in the morning) is a great way to help regulate your circadian rhythm. If you get out the door with ‘Fido’ within 60 minutes of waking then you will benefit from increased alertness, boosted mood, lower stress, and improved sleep quality.

9. Appreciating the small things: I think we can learn a lot of valuable lessons from our canine friends. One of the most obvious to me is how dogs find joy in the small everyday things in life. Every mealtime is a celebration of food, every time I come home from work a flurry of excitement to see me, every walk we go on there will be amazing new smells to discover. If we can adopt this mindset more, promoting gratitude and mindfulness in everyday activities, I think we would all rediscover joy in everyday life.

10. Teaches Compassion and Responsibility: Caring for a dog fosters compassion and responsibility, as an owner you learn to prioritize the needs of another living being and develop a nurturing attitude and become that bit more selfless.

I could come up with more reasons, but hopefully I have you as convinced as I am that dogs are pretty much the best thing around! Overall, the bond between humans and dogs is not only heart warming but also profoundly beneficial to health and happiness. There are even lots of scientific studies and papers to back up many of the points above, for those interested in further reading check out these links: one, two, three