Some view their pets as simple companions, quite literally as “pets.” They feed them, they walk them, the may even scoop their poop now and again, but there is never that strong resonation that they are family. Others, however, view their pets as more than pets, they view them as true, life partners, in sickness, and in health, much like marriage, but with an unconditional love that cannot be replicated in human affection.
But there is more than just the companionship and affection. We may not always realize it, but our dogs guide us through some pretty emotional times and although we may not always recognize the direct help they are giving us, it is there. Here are five ways that our dogs make us better people in all aspects of life. After you read these five ways, go thank your dog for what he/she has done for you:
1. They increase our moods
Simply spending a few minutes with your pup dramatically improves your mood. It has actually been shown that there is an increase in dopamine and serotonin when spending time around dogs. We all know that the more time you spend in a good mood, the more that you accomplish and the better that you feel about yourself. Try spending at least a few minutes per day with some one on one time with your furry children, if you pay attention, you’ll notice you walk away happier.
2. Dogs encourage a healthy fitness routine
Your pup may not hit the weights with you, but he sure as heck wants to do some high intensity interval training with you! Think of your dog as your constant conscience, reminding you to get outside and run those wind sprints! If you’re a responsible pet owner, you know the importance of daily exercise for your dog, but if you’re a smart and responsible pet owner, you know that you can exercise with your dog and do fasted cardio at the same time!
3. Provide you with a sense of self-worth
Although you don’t want to predicate your entire self worth on the external feelings of others, we have to admit that being around beings (whether humans or dogs) that appreciate your love and compassion help you feel much better. Deep down, we all want to help others, whether furry or not. So when there is that unconditional love and gratitude that comes from a dog, it helps you feel worthy, even if it is for something as simple as pouring some food in his/her bowl! This is shown to increase confidence, and we all know the power of increased confidence!
4. Improve your social life
I am going to use a personal example on this one. My father, sick with stage-4 cancer was held up in his home a lot of the time. Not having much energy to get out and enjoy life, we thought that giving him a furry companion to spend some time with him would help tremendously. And, it did! Within weeks, this dog got my dad out of the house and to the dog park and other public places where the simple social interaction alone made him feel worlds better. In fact, he is still fighting cancer with that dog to this day! Point being, our dogs help us to get out and socialize and build relationships built around our dogs. Unfortunately, as we get older, we realize that work gets the best of us, and we need a solid reason or a catalyst to get out and meet new people. This is it!
5. They make you laugh!
This is my favorite one, because all four of my dogs make my day every single day with their silly antics. You can’t deny the laughter that some of the goofy expressions your dog makes doesn’t make you feel ten times better. One thing that science has definitely proven is that laughter significantly increases serotonin and helps us feel better. In fact, laughing for just a couple of minutes per day, can drastically reduce cortisol levels in your body, which can actually then help you lose weight! Our pets can help us create the best environment you could possibly imagine, but it’s up to you to allow it to change your life.
So embrace every moment with your dog. Just because they can’t speak English doesn’t mean that they can’t communicate with us and know how to enrich our lives in more ways then one. Most importantly, our pets encourage us to live a healthy lifestyle, both physically and mentally, and for that we are forever indebted to them. Be the best possible person you can be, every day, but with the helping hand (or paw) of your pup!
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