Why Dogs Are Great For Your Life

By Randi Morse

I've always been a dog person. The bigger the dog, the happier I am, which is probably why my husband and I got two Alaskan malamutes when we finally owned a home that was big enough for them. After 11 years we lost one of our malamutes, but I can't stress enough how much both of our dogs benefited our lives. It turns out that there are a number of proven reasons why dogs improve our lives. 

Mental Health

Owning a dog can significantly help your mental health. When you come home from a long day at work your dog is the first one there to greet you happily. Dogs can sense when you're sad or don't feel well and are the first ones to come sit by you. Because your dog needs to go outside you're going to be more exposed to nature, which is always a natural mood booster, especially on a bright, sunny day.

Blood Pressure

There have been a number of studies that have shown that talking with your dog, and petting them, can help to lower blood pressure. There are a few theories of thought about why this is true, but most believe that it lowers blood pressure because the soothing motion of petting a dog lowers anxiety, and being able to speak to your pooch about anything can take a huge weight off of your shoulders. Lowering blood pressure means that you have a lowered risk for a number of different illnesses.

Skin Conditions

There are people who are allergic to dogs, but children who grow up with dogs have a significantly lower risk of developing eczema than those who have no dogs in their lives growing up. They also tend to develop fewer pet allergies as well. 

Recovery

We can't always avoid getting ill, no matter how cautious we are. Dog owners can, however, expect to feel better much sooner. One study followed humans who had experienced cardiac events. Those who had dogs were twice as likely to recover fully, and did so more quickly, than those who had no dogs. 

Dogs are an amazing addition to your family, but each breed has its own strengths and weaknesses. Make sure you do your research before adopting any dog and that you take into account your schedule, and your living situation, before you bring any new four-legged family members into your life. 

To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Pensacola, Fla.