10 Ways in Which Your Dog is Keeping You Fit and Healthy

Keeping You Fit – If you’re someone who naturally gravitates towards animals of all kinds, you’re probably aware of the love and warmth they’re capable of exuding. Animals respond to care and kindness, while setting us up for a huge payoff in return: that same love, manifold.

More often than not, when we think of animals that express love and loyalty, we tend to think of dogs. Even dogs that aren’t your pets are likely to respond when you lovingly pet them; you’ll know they like you when they start panting and wagging their tail! Now imagine if you had a pet dog; they’re familiar with you, your home, your friends, and know you inside out just like a best friend would. Heart-warming, isn’t it? Well, their love knows no bounds because they also play a role in keeping you fit and healthy.

Suffice to say, you absolutely can’t go wrong getting a dog. Let us count the reasons why!

Dogs keep you active

No matter the breed, they all come bearing oodles of energy! Sure, energy levels may vary from breed to breed, or even from dog to dog, the fact remains that they are always up for some serious fun.

They’ll howl and bark and nag you in loving ways till you take them out for a walk. They’re curious little explorers who want to see all there is to see in the world. And of course, since you’re the one taking them out, they’re essentially helping you get some exercise in.

Even if taking them out on frequent walks sounds like a chore and a half right now, a time will come when you’ll be the one who looks forward to them more than your dog does. Trust us.

They’re good for your heart

You read that right. Dogs are actually great for cardiovascular health. Turns out, all that love emanating from their heart and going straight to yours is doing you a lot more good than leaving you feeling warm and fuzzy.

Your dog buddy is actively helping you reduce cholesterol levels and blood pressure. They’re also making sure your triglyceride levels are low so you have fewer chances of a heart attack. If that’s not true love, what is?

They help you lose weight

You know what they say; if you need help shedding those extra pounds, get yourself some hounds!

OK, no one says that, but it’s true! Dogs help you get a considerable amount of hours in when it comes to exercise. Admit it, you can be averse to going to the gym because it all feels so mechanical and boring. With your dog buddy by your side, though, you’re about to get a whole lot leaner.

The best part? Walking your dog won’t even feel like exercise. It’ll be more like going for a stroll with your best friend and spending some quality time together. What more could you ask for?

Good for mental health

Dogs have big personalities and they’re all dynamic in their own way. They’re all the same, however, in that they can do wonders for your mental health.

Dogs as stress busters

When it comes to alleviating the many stresses life throws your way, no one can do a better job than your dog.

It might seem like a tall claim on our part, but we’ve got two words for you: therapy dogs. Being around a cute pup can increase serotonin and dopamine levels. We don’t have to tell you these neurochemicals play a substantial role in enhancing and preserving your overall well-being.

Dogs take loneliness away

Loneliness is almost never a choice we make. It can surround us at any given point in our lives, regardless of age, gender, profession, or our financial standing.

It can very well lead to depression, and we know the detrimental effects that can have on a person. In such cases, dogs can prove to be the nurturing, attentive companions you need them to be.

Dogs add meaning to life

Having a dog around can help ease anxiety, make you feel less isolated, and bring you back towards life. They do all this and more without asking for anything but your love in return.

Strengthen the immune system

Having pets at home can strengthen kids’ immune systems. Additionally, having dogs at home can also lower the chances of children becoming allergic to pets in general.

Dogs bring structure to your day

You might think you’re the one disciplining your mutt, but actually, it’s a two-way street.

Because dogs need to be fed and walked at specific intervals, you will need to structure your day around them. If you look at it, it’s a good system to have in place because a little discipline never hurt anybody.

The key to a calm temperament and a balanced life is, you guessed it: consistency. Even if it’s a Sunday morning and all you want to do is sleep in, chances are your dog will beg to differ. It will do you good to give in to their demands because let’s face it, you’re helping yourself too.

Help challenged individuals

There are a lot of us living with physical and mental disabilities, both visible and invisible, temporary and permanent.

Service dogs are superheroes in their own right in that they assist the blind, hard of hearing, and bed-ridden in unimaginable ways. They cater to individuals of all ages, belonging to any and all walks of life.

From helping autistic children to those dealing with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), dogs are widely known to make people feel better by pulling them out of misery.

For the reasons mentioned in this article and more, dogs are wondrous creatures capable of performing miracles and changing our lives for the better. Before you decide to bring home your canine companion, make sure you can handle the responsibility of a pet. Time and money are going to be only two of the many investments you’ll have to make, so please adopt only if you’re willing to go above and beyond to make them feel welcome.


by Maria A 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