A pet can be a great friend. After a long and difficult day, when you come home to your dog, you can literally feel the love. That is probably why there is a lot of research that shows that living with dogs offers several health benefits. Let’s take a look at some of the mental health benefits of having your own pet dog.
Mood Booster
There’s no doubt that owning a dog has a positive effect on your mood. Dogs are almost always in a good mood, and that can help transform your own mood when you are down and stressed. Research shows that dog owners have a lower risk of suffering from depression than those without pets.
Playing with your dog can increase the levels of serotonin and dopamine in your body, and these hormones function to help you stay calm and relaxed. The companionship of a dog can also make you feel less lonely, which can significantly boost your mood and lower depression.
There are a lot of other benefits that come with dog ownership, even for teenagers. Research by the American Academy of Dermatology shows that over 50 million individuals in the United States alone have acne and most of them are teenagers, about 85% to be precise. Dogs help people to cope with stress, and while stress can not directly cause acne, it can worsen it. It’s not only acne, either. Stress causes delays in wound healing; therefore, anything that can help to deal with stress can boost healing time.
Socialization
Being a dog owner can help you meet new people. For people who find it difficult to strike conversations with others, dogs can be a social lubricant. They are an easy topic to talk about, which can help you start and maintain relationships. You find that dog owners often stop for small chats when they meet in pet stores and during walks in dog parks.
Companionship
Dogs are brilliant companions. Companionship helps you cope with illness and even prolongs your life. It has been shown that isolation and loneliness can make a person depressed. When you care for a dog, you feel wanted, which can help to remove focus from what’s troubling you. A lot of dog owners talk to their dogs, which can help take things off your chest and work through your problems.
It can be a great idea to even go on vacation with your dog. It’s a practice that is increasingly becoming popular, as the revenue for the truck, RV, and the utility trailer industry is expected to reach about 22.1 billion U.S. dollars by 2024. Even if you don’t go abroad, you can just rent a trailer and go somewhere quiet to relax. More people are going on such holidays.
More Exercise and Relaxation
There are lots of activities that you can do with your dog. For instance, you can go on a run, hike, or do any activity with your dog which will help you fit some exercise into your schedule in a fun and relaxing way. It’s easy to meet your exercise requirements if you have a dog. Exercising with your dog is great for bonding, and it can help you do away with most dog vices.
Consider Adopting Today
If you decide to get a dog, the best option would be to adopt one. When you adopt a dog, you get the chance to provide it with a new home. Also, there is a high chance that you will get a trained animal and you won’t have to do the training yourself.
Before you adopt a dog, check the website of the shelter you wish to adopt from and find out if they are registered and operating lawfully. A well-designed and informative website can be the first sign that you are dealing with a lawful animal shelter which is important, especially if they require that you leave your details online. If a website looks shady, it’s better to visit the animal shelter in person. It’s not uncommon to reject a website. About 94% of people reject websites they can’t trust online because of improper web design.
There are several mental health benefits of dog ownership. Consider these benefits if you are struggling with a mental health disorder or if you feel stressed in your day-to-day life. Having a dog by your side can truly help you, so consider adopting today.
