Ask any dog lover, and they’ll tell you that canine companions add warmth and comfort to people’s lives. But there’s a great deal of evidence that suggests that owning a dog might actually improve your overall health too. Have you ever noticed how much better you feel when your pooch walks into a room or cuddles next to you? They’re pawsome creatures who have the ability to make a positive impact on your physical health as well as your mood. So, in honor of man’s best friend, we’re providing you with a series of fun facts that will make you love your dog even more.Studies have shown that kids develop a stronger immune system if they live with dogs. That means they won’t have to worry about a lot of allergies. But other research shows that dogs teach kids how to become responsible, happy and caring human beings. So, it’s a physical and psychological win-win!
Pet your dog for 15 minutes every day! This lowers your blood pressure 10% because your dog helps you release the stress hormone cortisol, as well as serotonin, prolactin, and the feel-good hormone, oxytocin. Who knew your pooch was a living breathing anti-depressant with no side-effects?
Dogs motivate you to go outside, take a walk, run, and roll around in the yard. This keeps you physically active, which lowers stress. But the emotional connection you feel towards your pet can also keep your anxiety in check.
Dogs have natural empathy towards people who are stressed out or crying. So, when they see someone in distress, they immediately respond. But wait for it! They don’t even have to know you personally. You could be a perfect stranger, and they’ll still rush to your side to try and lend a paw.
Your dog follows you everywhere! It’s like it can’t live without you, but you have to go to work, right? Well, don’t worry. To ease separation anxiety, give your dog a shirt or jacket you’ve worn. That will hold them over until you come home.
Research shows that dogs display the same brainwave patterns as humans when they sleep, which suggests they dream too. But imagine what dogs dream about? Maybe a food bowl that automatically replenishes itself or a doggy version of Freddy Krueger! That would explain the whimpering.
Dogs have powerful noses and can smell diseases. Researchers still aren’t sure how they do it, but they think that dogs can smell minor hormonal changes which indicate an illness. So, if your dog starts acting funny around you, you might just need a check-up.
Positive reinforcement during training has better results when teaching a dog how to behave. Research shows that if you use love and encouragement instead of harshness, you’ll be able to curve negative behaviors in your pooch and have a healthier relationship with them.
They have more than three hundred million olfactory receptors, while humans only have six million. This gives them a sense of smell that is 10,000 times strong than ours. It’s why authorities depend on them to find missing persons.
Dogs have larger pupils which allow them to see more light. This is thanks to something called a tapetum, which is located in the back of their eyes. It reflects light into the retina, which lets them perceive light in ways we can’t. It’s why they’re so useful when you’re out in the woods.
Your pooch spins around before finally laying down to sleep in order to protect his vital organs and get comfortable. Once it achieves this, your four-legged friend will curl up like a furry donut and swiftly head to dreamland.
There’s no actual scientific explanation for this, but studies suggest that it might be because dogs use their adorableness to manipulate you into becoming more active. So, if your cholesterol is skyrocketing, a dog will bring those number right back to Earth.
About 20% of adults in the US will develop some kind of mental illness like depression or bipolar disorder. Pets can’t cure these conditions, but they can decrease anxiety and lighten a depressed person’s mood a face lick at a time.
In fact, studies have shown that people are generally 75% happier when they own a dog. Even people who lived on their own felt a lot less lonely when they had a dog they could talk to. So, trust your dog to help you find a way to take control of your life.
