By Terrie Johnson, Intern and UAB Community Health and Human Services Student

The benefits of owning a dog as a pet are great and shows that having a canine companion makes the owners happier and healthier. Taking a dog for a walk in the evenings or on weekends is refreshing, enabling the owner to unwind and refresh the mind. Furthermore, walking is a form of physical exercise that eliminates the possibility of leading a sedentary lifestyle that increases the risk of obesity and other lifestyle-related illnesses. Dog ownership has health benefits that emanate from walking the pet, the overall happiness that comes with being in charge of the dog, and the possibility of the dog saving the owner in times of crisis, such as a heart attack or an intrusion by a potentially harmful trespasser.

The benefits of owning a dog outweigh the maintenance costs and the time spent with the pet. Research shows that regular interactions with dogs increase the production of happiness-inducing hormones, such as serotonin, oxytocin, and dopamine, all of which contribute to longer lives (Gee et al., 2021). Perpetually happy people tend to have reduced risks, such as the risk of self-harm originating from unmanageable stress levels (Powell et al., 2019). Correspondingly, research shows that owning a dog increases the owner’s mental health, effectively reducing depression while boosting life satisfaction levels (Rodriguez, 2019). Thus, dog ownership will likely increase as people become aware of the numerous benefits they stand to gain.

Dog ownership has always been a favorite hobby for millions worldwide. Most domestic dogs are obedient, can run errands, and alert the owner when an intruder approaches. The deep bond and calming effect are vital aspects of living, which makes life worth every moment. In line with this, people should embrace dog ownership to benefit from longer lives, but they should equally take optimal care of the pets to ensure they are healthy so that they can serve them well.

References

Gee, N. R., Rodriguez, K. E., Fine, A. H., & Trammell, J. P. (2021) dogs supporting human health and well-being: A biopsychosocial approach. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 8. 630465. Doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.630465

Powell, L. et al. (2019). Companion dog acquisition and mental well-being: a community-based three-arm controlled study. BMC Public Health, 19(1428). 1-10 Doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-7770-5

Rodriguez, A. (2019). Owning a dog can help you live longer, study suggests. USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2019/10/08/aha-journal-study-owning-dog-may-help-you-live-longer/3907770002/