If you are among those that detest pets especially puppies and dogs. We were in it together, however my views changed after experiencing numerous health benefits by simply owning a pet. You will definitely have a rethink if you have negative view about owning a pet. For many people, pets are an important source of love and friendship. People could take on any pet of their choice, goats, cats, parrots etc, but the commonest are dogs, which is why we are making more reference to dogs.
The decision to get a pet usually stems from a desire to have a companion at home, or Security. Spending quality time with pets, specifically dogs, provides more than just companionship, however. These furry friends can give you a clean bill of health. Most dog owners believe their beloved four-legged canines make their lives better, and according to science, there are many ways they can indeed increase your longevity.
In the U.S., an estimated 70 to 80 million dogs and 74 to 96 million cats are owned, according to The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). Moreover, up to 47 percent of all households in the U.S. have a dog compared to the 37 percent who have a cat. A reason for this discrepancy may lie in dogs’ successful mastery of the human-animal bond relationship. Dogs are shown to be apt in reading humans’ patterns of social behavior, especially related to food and care.
A 2012 study published in the journal Current Biology found dogs are able to read humans’ “communicative intent” or the intention to interact with them via face. This suggests dogs, like human infants, are sensitive to social cues that signal communicative intent. Dogs tend to speak through body language and facial expression, which makes them better equipped to figure out our moods and what makes us happy, among other things.
Whether you choose a cat, a dog, a horse, or a rabbit, the benefits to raising children in a home with pets are great, Pets give unconditional and non discriminatory love. They are non-judgmental, and, especially for only children, lonely children, or children who have sibling rivalry or emotional distress, a pet gives them someone to talk to.
Dogs have ingratiated themselves in society in ways that not only benefits them, but also their owners. They’re an exchange between affection and attention for food and shelter. Moreover, dogs are truly a man’s best friend, providing an array of health benefits, from increasing physical activity levels to sniffing out cancer.
1. Greater Physical Activity
Dogs are more likely than other house pets to beg for a walk or a game outside. This encourages owners to frequently take a walk or exercise with their dogs. A 2006 study published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine found dog owners were more likely to do mild to moderate physical activity during the week than non-dog owners. These owners walked an average of 300 minutes per week compared to their counterpart’s average of 168 minutes per week. This means dog owners are more likely to get the recommended 30-minute minimum of exercise a day.
2. Decreases Allergy Risk
Dogs may be a trigger for people with allergies, but they can the lessen allergy risk for kids growing up with them. The effect is so strong that even pregnant women who live with a dog can still reduce the likelihood of their child developing allergies. A 2004 study published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology found exposure to dogs in infancy, especially around the time of birth, can actually influence children’s immune development while reducing the probability of certain allergic diseases. Children who had a dog at home as newborns were much less likely to have atopic dermatitis and wheezing by their third birthday compared to non-dog owners.
