6 Amazing Facts That Prove Life is Better with a Dog

Simply put, life is better with a dog. Nothing quite beats coming home to your dog running down the stairs to say hello, or licking your face in the morning to wake you up.

Dogs enrich every dog owner lives with their company comfort protection and entertainment. life is better a dog.

And guess what? There is actual science that backs all this up. Owning a dog is good for us, physically and mentally.

 

Here are six reasons life is better with a dog.

1. Dogs Make You Happy

In 2009, Japan did a study that found that your oxytocin levels increase when you stare into your dog's eyes. Remember, oxytocin is the feel-good hormone, also known as the "cuddle hormone," the "social hormone," or the "happy hormone."

How could you not feel happy with the unconditional love dogs can offer you?

2. Dogs Make You More Social

Your kids might be begging for a dog, and this study might make you get them one. A study at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine found that teenagers and young adults who grow up and care for a dog engage in more "contribution activities" and feel connected with other people and possess empathy and confidence.

Besides being great for teens and young adults, they help us be more social in everyday life. How many times have you stopped to pet a dog you passed or to ask the owner about their cute dog?

3. Dogs Make You More Active

We said these reasons are backed by science, so here's another study was done in Canada that found dog owners are more likely to engage in moderate physical activity than non-dog owners.

I bet many dog owners can attest to this following fact. Dog owners walk an average of 300 minutes per week, while non-dog owners walk an average of 168 minutes per week.

Nothing makes a dog or you happier than a nice long walk.

4. Dogs Relieve Stress

After a stressful day, nothing is better than coming home and snuggling your dog… okay, maybe a nice long hug from your significant other too. But just like a 20-second hug can relieve stress, pets can help you feel more relaxed and forget the stressors of your day.

A study at Washington State University found that spending time with a dog can positively impact your mental health. Playing or petting your furry friend slows breathing, improves heart rate, lowers blood pressure, and relaxes muscle tension.

5. Dogs Are Good For Your Heart- Literally

Since dogs help lower blood pressure, relieve stress, and keep you moving, your cardiovascular system is healthier and more robust. Dogs are literally good for your heart.

Harvard Health found that people who spend quality time with their dog improve their heart health. Dog owners have lower blood pressure, healthier cholesterol levels, and a lower risk of heart disease than non-dog owners.

6. Dogs' Sense of Smell Can Keep You Healthy

Did you know dogs can smell things that are invisible to a human? A dogs' sense of smell is 10,000 to 100,000 times as acute as humans. Dogs read about the world through their noses. And that nose just might keep you healthy.

The newest research shows that dogs can sniff out diseases in humans- particularly cancers. Malignant tumors release a tiny amount of chemical compounds that don't exist in healthy tissue; dogs may be able to detect those changes even before it shows up on a blood test.

Dogs are even trained to help detect food allergies, alert diabetics of low blood sugar levels, detect seizures before they occur, and even detect anxiety attacks or PTSD episodes.

Long Story Short- Dogs Make Life Better

If you already own a dog, then you probably agreed with all these reasons. And if you don't, maybe, we convinced you to own a dog. There are animal shelters filled with homeless dogs waiting to find them a forever home. Head to your local shelter and find out for yourself that life is better with a dog.