12 Ways Dogs Contribute to Human Health and Happiness

Dogs come with some special powers to improve human health and induce happiness. This is scientifically proven so you don’t have to take our word for it. They do this in many different ways, from strengthening the heart to alleviating feelings of sadness and depression. Don’t underestimate these little creatures!

Here are 12 top ways dogs contribute to human health and happiness, each has its own importance and is unique to the other.

1. Lower Stress and Anxiety

Dogs are one of the most lovable and loyal creatures known to mankind. Not only does their companionship offer comfort but it is also known to reduce anxiety and lower stress levels. Studies conducted have shown that petting a dog can decrease levels of the stress hormones in the body. They help you enjoy the present moment and make you forget about your worries. So much so that they have been known to come to nursing homes and other places to help relieve stress.

2. Help You Stay Active

The health benefits of having a dog are many. A  dog keeps you on your toes. You have to take them on walks, play with them and take full care of them. It ensures that you keep active which is not only good for your health but will also enable you to be happy. It is a form of exercise and therefore releases endorphins, which are basically happy chemicals in the brain. Owning a dog is therefore an excellent way to keep healthy and active.

3. Improves Heart Health

Not only do these furry creatures capture your heart but also help improve your heart health. Studies conducted have proved that having a dog can lower blood pressure, decrease cholesterol levels and overall improve your heart health and cause fewer heart attacks. To add to that, it is said that dog owners who do get heart attacks are known to survive longer than one’s who don’t.

4. Add Meaning to Your Life

Dogs have the magical power to make you happy and give you something to live for. Looking after these beautiful creatures is a satisfying feeling that will make your life so much more wholesome. It’ll add a new kind of meaning to your life, they give you a reason to wake up in the morning.

5. Prevent Depression

Yes, it’s true; these lovable species can stave off depression. Research conducted has shown that dog owners are less likely to suffer from depression as compared to those who don’t have dogs. Given the benefits, they provide to human health this is not surprising to hear. They keep you happy and you are therefore less prone to depression.

6. Give You Company

They say a dog is a man’s best friend for a reason. A dog can provide you with the best kind of company, so much so that you won’t even feel the need for humans. They are the best companions, which is also a major factor in preventing illnesses. If you live by yourself then this is all the more potent for you, nothing beats coming home to a beautiful creature that adores you!

7. Improve Your Social Life

Believe it or not, owning a dog can help improve your social life and help you make new friends. For starters, they are the center of attention and will definitely make heads turn. Not only are they a great conversation starter but you can make friends with the owners of your dogs dog-friends too! Because dogs are social creatures by nature they will not let you sit home and drag you out often enough.

8. Help You Lose Weight

Want to shed some pounds? Get yourself a dog and see the results you get.  Keeping fit is great for your overall health and well-being. Research has proven that daily dog walks enable you to lose weight. If you are overweight then this is a great method for you to lose weight. You’ll be having so much fun while doing it that you won’t even realize the effect it’s having in dropping those pounds.

9. They Make the Best Cuddle Buddies

Cuddling your furry boo can make you feel happy and content. It’ll help you relax and make you feel loved. If you don’t have a human version of a cuddle buddy, worry not, that’s what dogs are there for! They are soft and furry and their lovable nature makes them the ideal cuddle buddy. If you are having a bad day just cuddle up with them and see the difference it’ll make to your mood.

10. Get Fewer Allergies

It is known that homes with dogs tend to suffer from fewer allergies as compared to ones that are dog-less. Newborns who grew up with a dog tend to have much fewer allergies later on. To add to that it helps them develop stronger immune systems which will make them less prone to illnesses later on.

11. Instant Mood Booster

Dogs are happy creatures that give out so much love and joy. Imagine that you are feeling low or having a bad day, your little furry friend will cheer you up in an instant like nothing else. All you have to do is look at it or pick him/her up and you’ll see the magic it’ll do in making you happy. You won’t have to turn to your other not-so-healthy alternatives to change your mood!

12. Provide You With New Experiences

There are adventures and experiences that you may not have gotten the chance to live through if it wasn’t for your dog. Active by nature, they will make you take them for walks, to parks and to new places that will give you a whole new perspective on life. They will help you grow and teach you things you never knew before. Every day will be a new adventure with your little one!

Through these 12 ways, dogs play their role in contributing to your health and happiness. They are the perfect solution to both these things so you should totally get one if you haven’t already!


by Bobby J Davidson || You can’t buy love, but you can rescue it™

Facts About Animal Homelessness:

  1. Only 1 out of every 10 dogs born will find a permanent home.
  2. The main reasons animals are in shelters: owners give them up, or animal control finds them on the street.
  3. Each year, approximately 2.7 million dogs and cats are killed every year because shelters are too full and there aren’t enough adoptive homes. Act as a publicist for your local shelter so pets can find homes. Sign up for Shelter Pet PR.
  4. Approximately 7.6 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately 3.9 million are dogs and 3.4 million are cats.
  5. According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (NCPPSP), less than 2% of cats and only 15 to 20% of dogs are returned to their owners.
  6. 25% of dogs that enter local shelters are purebred.
  7. About twice as many animals enter shelters as strays compared to the number that are relinquished by their owners.
  8. It’s impossible to determine how many stray dogs and cats live in the United States. Estimates for cats alone range up to 70 million.
  9. Only 10% of the animals received by shelters have been spayed or neutered. Overpopulation, due to owners letting their pets accidentally or intentionally reproduce, sees millions of these “excess” animals killed annually.
  10. Many strays are lost pets that were not kept properly indoors or provided with identification.
  11. According to The Humane Society, there are about 3,500 brick-and-mortar animal shelters in the US and 10,000 rescue groups and animal sanctuaries in North America.

Here are a some adoptions for consideration:  puccicafe.com/adoptions