Here are 5 major mental health benefits you get from owning a dog. Learn what to do to claim these benefits as you spent time with your furry friend.
Contents
Introduction
Mental health has become one of the most common issue in today’s world. When we talk about mental health, it includes the psychological, emotional, thoughts, feelings, and social well being of a person. The moods, behaviors, attitude and actions of an individual is affected if their mental health is not stable.
In human life, mental health is very important as it decides the way individual lives their life. It can also affect all relationships, especially in the social life of a person with the outer world. One of the most common factors in mental health is the dissatisfaction that one has towards thyself. The mental health of a person degrades when the expectation that an individual has from their fellow beings are not fulfilled.
Mental health is not incurable. It can be cured using different techniques, depending on various approach used by the experts. With professional guidance, one’s mental health can be cured completely and owning a dog is one where we can get such benefits. The dog is an animal which is considered as humans’ best friend.
Humans may betray and disappoint each other. But dogs never let go of their master’s side. They are always there, ready to protect the well-being of their owners. There are various movies, which also portrays the commitment that dogs have towards their masters.
As such, we humans, knowing the fact that we will not be betrayed, most people find comfort in spending time with their pets. Owning a dog in turn benefits us and helps to reduce stress level and boost up our mental health instantly. Dogs also have the ability to sense early detection of cancer and diabetes in a person.
Five Major Mental Health Benefits Of Owing A Dog
Mental health is a state of well-being in which an individual realizes his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can productively, and is able to make a contribution to his or her community.
World Health Organization (WHO)
Peaceful Life
Owning a dog or a pet comes with huge responsibility, but at the same time the mental health benefits that one gets from it are uncountable and undeniable. Studies have shown that, constant support that the owners get from their pets boost up the confidence level, comparing to the others who does not own one.
Pet owners have more strength and perseverance than others. They are usually active while they engage themselves with other physical activities outside their home. Also, people who own a dog has lesser chance to contract heart disease, as they exercise on daily basis, living a healthy and peaceful life.
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Psychological benefits
Many studies have shown that taking care of dogs or cats benefits the psychology of the owner in various ways. Rearing pets reduce stress, anxiety, trauma and strength to fight depression and loneliness.
It also leads individuals to make more friends, unconditional love and companionship which one cannot get from human beings, or their surroundings. Studies have shown that dogs contribute greatly to one’s happiness.
Training classes
Training is an essential part of raising a dog. The training received will help the dog’s mentality, confidence and helps in restoration of the bond shared by the owner and his pet.
Regular training of the dog helps the owner to have a sense of accomplishment, where the frustration that is within oneself, because of the pressure from the outside world, not being able to succeed is unleashed.
Physical activity
Caring for a dog will compel a person to take their dogs out for walk every day. This increases the physical activity of a person. One advantage that dog owners enjoy is the physical activity that involves the health of both the dog and the owner.
Dog owners get to walk with their dog each day, which is very important in daily life. This also contributes to the mental health benefits of owning a dog. For the sake of the dog, the owner exercises more often than the others, leading to a healthy and happy life.
A dog is not a tool just to make us more physically active. But if you feel that you have the time, inclination and finances to take on the responsibility of having a dog, they are a great motivator to get out walking when you otherwise would have made excuses not to.
Dr. Westgarth
Social isolation
When an individual shuts themselves out from all kinds of social interaction, the value of their pets comes in. The cruelty of the world is too much for people to handle at times. In those hard times, pets become a great listener and a great comforter.
They listen to all your talks, without giving out criticism, which one will likely get when interacting with humans. This boosts the confidence of a person when he/she feels misunderstood and isolated from others.
Live Longer
Dog owners live longer than others as there is no lack of love and happiness in their life. They get enough exercise which they need for the maintenance of their physical life. There is not a day that they feel alone.
Their pet is always right beside them. Taking care of dogs help individuals to understand themselves better; retrospect about their life.
The personality of a person is revealed by the way they treat their pets. Dogs are part of human life. If there is a faithful, loyal and caring footprints following you, you will never be alone in whatever situation or condition you are in.
As a Dog Owner
Taking care of a pet on daily basis, keeps the owner away from the problems of the world. Seeing your pet grow each day gives a sense of accomplishment which gives comfort to the owner.
Humans are made to live in a society, sharing close bonds as a community. But when one shuts himself from any society, one’s mental health degrades instantly and people often lost the will to live on.
But a genuine pet owner will always have a sense of responsibility that they carry along with them. As a result, they have a purpose to live on, when they feel that they are not needed by other beings. It gives reason to people to live on.
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Conclusion
Keeping a dog as a pet gives a sense of security for the people living along with it. They provide the best companionship to man. Having someone to share a day with, knowing that they will never leave you alone is one of the best and satisfied things that a person can get, living in this world filled with chaos and conflict. Keeping a pet reduces stress and anxiety in a person.
Therefore, as responsible adults, everyone should spread awareness about the mental health benefits of owning a dog or other pets. Children should learn how to get attached to their pets. Having a pet in a family will strengthen the bond and relationship that each member share.
Read About the Unexpected Benefits Of Having A Dog As Your Pet!
I heard that my colleague has been trying to cope with grief recently, and I want to help him out. I never knew that having a furry friend around your home is enough to boost your mood and give you company. Maybe we should look for a breeder that could help him adopt a puppy.