More Evidence That Owning a Dog Is Really Good for You

Happy National Dog Day! Any time is a great time to celebrate dogs, but today gives us an extra excuse to get profound Dogs make us happier about just HOW much we love them. Here at Rover, we’re passionate about making it possible for everyone to experience the joy of pet parenthood. After all, science tells us that dogs make us happier. Of course, we didn’t need proof, exactly. Still, it’s nice to see the evidence of what we’ve known all along: life is simply better with a dog. Here are 4 ways that dogs make you happier.

Dogs improve moods

Numerous studies have shown that having a pet can lessen the symptoms of   and help pet parents maintain a positive, optimistic outlook.

As author and animal expert Karen Winger noted in a 2009 interview with the “The human-animal bond bypasses the intellect and goes straight to the heart and emotions and nurtures us in ways that nothing else can.”

t’s morning. The alarm goes off. You open your eyes and you’re met with another pair of them, as well as a wet nose. You can tell from the way his head is swaying that he’s wagging his tail. You smile and he takes that as a note of permission to start licking your face. You giggle, give him a cuddle and jump out of bed.

You know getting up in the morning is a lot easier and more fun when you’ve got a dog who’s so excited to see you open your eyes. He’s even more excited as you get dressed to go out and grab the leash by the door. By now he’s jumping up and down and making weird, excited maneuvers chasing his own tail. It’s as if going for a morning walk is the most exciting thing that’s ever happened to him. You can’t help but smile.

This is the thing about dogs. They make your life better. They make you smile more. They force you to move. They encourage you to be more  of the present. They make you feel loved. Perhaps that’s why it’s no surprise that science has shown dogs improve your physical, mental and emotional health. Here’s exactly how:

1. Dogs improve your mood.

Study after study has shown that owning a pet can help you to maintain a more positive,  perspective on life and what you’re faced with. Better yet, they can even lessen the symptoms of  and . There are many reasons why this might be the case but author and animal expert Karen Vinegar sums it up beautifully: “The human-animal bond bypasses the intellect and goes straight to the heart and emotions and nurtures us in ways that nothing else can.”

2. Dogs make you feel loved.

Spending time with dogs, and even more so petting them and cuddling them, increases your levels of. Oxytocin, known as the “love ” is a neurotransmitter that calms yo down, relaxing you, whilst also increasing your trust.

3. Dogs lower your stress.

Petting dogs not only ups your oxytocin but also lowers your cortisol, the stress hormone. In line with this, studies at the University of New York found that people experienced lower levels of stress when conducting a  assignment when they had a pet with them. Studies in workplaces have also shown that taking dogs to work lowers your stress, improves your recovery after challenges and even increases positive social interactions.

Read More: dogs make us feel less alone

4. Dogs help you to be social.

If you’re , an  or simply not that confident in social situations, your dog can help you with this. As your dog greets another dog, it’s natural to exchange a few words with the dog’s owner. It’s easier to chat because you already have one common ground (i.e. dogs) and having these simple interactions can help up your .

5. Dogs keep you healthy and fit.

If you own a dog and you love them, you take them out for walks. You play with them. You keep them entertained. That means you’re active throughout your day which naturally boosts your physical health whilst also, as an added bonus, improves your mood. In line with this, clinical studies have shown that dog owners tend to have lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, both reducing the risk of heart-related illnesses.

These are only a few of the many ways that dogs improve the quality of your life. If you’ve got a dog, make sure you give them an extra cuddle today and tell them how you are for them. Don’t worry about whether they will understand or not. They will feel it — and so will you.

My dogs make me a better and happier person. But it’s not just my own dogs I relish. Cuddling random dogs leaves me feeling energized. It seems to me that all dogs are therapy dogs. But in how many ways do dogs make us happier?

The bond between dogs and their guardians is chemically similar to the bond between a mother and a child. Scientific studies remain undisputed. People with dogs are happier and healthier than people without dogs. But why is this? The magic of a wet-nosed and floppy-eared friend can literally change our lives around Dogs make us happier.

If you are already a dog guardian, you may nod your head along with this article. If you are considering opening your life up to a dog, read on to discover how it will make you happier.