Healing Hounds!
by Nick Chapman
Can owning a dog help reduce the number of visits you make to your doctor?
It does seem that keeping a dog significantly contributes to overall wellbeing and good health.
Repeated research has shown that dog owners are generally healthier and tend to live longer than non-owners.
More recent research in America has shown that keeping a dog is a more effective treatment than certain drugs, in preventing high peaks in blood pressure during periods of increased stress or tension.
Both our mental and physical health is improved by dog ownership. The mere act of stroking a dog fosters a feeling of calm, lowers blood pressure and causes a reduction in the body's production of cortisol, the so-called "stress hormone".
Research shows that typically, dog owners tend to have lower blood pressure, a lower heart rate, and even lower cholesterol levels, which all help lessen the risk of heart disease.
Those who are unfortunate enough to suffer a heart attack are twice as likely to be still alive, one year after their attack, than those without a dog.
The exercise we get from walking our dogs benefits us in many ways. The most obvious perhaps, being the calories we burn-up, helping us to keep trim, but are you also aware that another benefit of regular walking, being a weight-bearing exercise, is an improvement in bone density, therefore lessening your likelihood of developing osteoporosis?
On their website, the NHS tells us that by walking regularly we can help reduce our risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, cancer, diabetes, and even arthritis.
Exercise also encourages our brains to produce endorphins, helping to lift our mood, so perhaps it's no surprise to learn that walking has also been shown to help alleviate the symptoms of depression.
Dogs are a good antidote to loneliness, and companionship is often the reason we bring a dog into our home. Whilst walking your dog itself promotes numerous health benefits, it also provides you with the perfect excuse to be outside, giving you more opportunity to meet others. A dog is a good conversation starter and people often seem quite keen to chat and indeed, will often initiate conversation, when you're out with your dog.
You may decide to enter a few shows with your dog or join a local training class or club. These are also good ways to meet like-minded folk. I have some friends: a happy couple, who have been together for over 6 years now, having met at their local puppy training class!
A dog is an unbeatable friend. Your dog won't judge you, or talk behind your back. He will love you unconditionally, is always on your side and will always be thrilled to see you. He won't answer you back, and may well defend you as though his life depends on it!
Undoubtedly, owning a dog is a serious responsibility and a long-term commitment. Demands will be made on your time, patience, energy and cash. You should only consider getting a dog if you are fully confident that you are willing and able to provide a loving, knowledgeable home where your dog can lead a full and happy life.
If, after all that, you do decide to go ahead and bring home a canine companion, like millions of others, you might well decide that your mutt really is the best medicine of all!
