How do our fluffy friends contribute to emotional balance?
Many of us find ourselves curled up with our miniature companions at the end of the day, providing us with comfort and calmness. But why do we so feel warm and fuzzy in the presence of our four-legged friends?
The benefits of spending time with dogs extends much further than bringing a smile to our faces. There is a wide range of mental and physical benefits which contribute to making us feel happier and more fulfilled. One theory is that dogs reduce stress and anxiety by altering the amount of oxytocin and cortisol in the body. Increasing the amount of the hormone, oxytocin, means that you are less likely to experience social anxiety, fear and stress. Oxytocin is also associated with bonding and is often referred to as the ‘love hormone’. Likewise, cortisol reduction improves your energy levels, sleep, mood and promotes relaxation: things that are vital for stable mental health. This doesn’t only apply to humans but to our dogs too as they also experience a decrease of cortisol and an increase in oxytocin when interacting with humans, even if it is only for a short period of time.
Dog ownership encourages playing and daily walks, not only boosting your mood but physical wellbeing too. This causes the ‘feel good hormones’ to be released such as dopamine and serotonin, supporting individuals with mental health conditions such as depression and PTSD as they help manage symptoms.
Having a sense of structure and purpose is something that dogs also encourage. Caring for your pet requires a consistent routine for things such as walking, feeding and grooming. This gives the owner a sense of purpose, making them feel more in control of their life and time, which can be extremely helpful during difficult times. Having structure makes it much easier to create healthy habits and maintain them in your daily life, such as exercising consistently and having a balanced diet. Research from The Kennel Club, revealed that dogs have a positive impact on the mental wellbeing of their owners, particularly for people who experience high levels of stress, loneliness and anxiety. The study carried out by The Kennel Club reveals that three in four owners of dogs (73%) find that their pets improve their mental health, as well as relieving feelings of loneliness and stress, while over two-thirds (71%) say that their dogs alleviate feeling of anxiety.
Surprisingly, dogs don’t only view us as treat-givers and monsters who force them to go to the vets, but also as family and part of their pack: someone who leads them and provides them with guidance, food and shelter. They gain an unbreakable bond with their owner and remain loyal under all circumstances.
Have you ever noticed your dog run to the door before you have even packed your bag or put your shoes on? If so, this is because dogs study our behaviour and body language, making them extremely attuned to our daily activities, almost like they can read our minds. This makes many owners feel connected to their dog as we provide unconditional love which is reciprocated by them.
Some dogs may also be vital to the health and wellbeing of certain people. For example, someone may have a severe food allergy which could threaten their life if they consume it or breathe in the food particles through the air. However, specially trained dogs can sniff out certain foods and alert the owner if it is present, potentially saving their life. This is because a dog’s nose has 300 million olfactory receptors while a human nose only has 6 million, making them ‘super sniffers’ . Another factor of this is that dogs have a larger area of their brain dedicated to smells and can separate the scent particles from the air to be processed.
Guide dogs are also ‘heroes in discuses’ like sniffer dogs, navigating busy areas or public transport and helping their owners stay safe. There are currently over 4,950 guide dogs in the UK changing the lives of people with impaired vision. This is thanks to sponsorships such as the ‘Sponsor a Puppy this Christmas’ on the Guide Dogs UK website (Sponsor a Guide Dog Puppy | Guide Dogs UK). There are 2 million people in the UK living with sight loss and the number is estimated to double by 2050, so sponsoring a puppy helps provide services to anyone who needs them. You can even choose the dog that you would like to sponsor and will receive monthly updates on how they are progressing and learning how to make a difference in someone’s life. There is a wide selection of dogs to choose to sponsor, with the most adorable names like Parsnip, Merry etc.- making it even more enticing to support their training this festive season.
If you didn’t think dogs being cute was reason enough, our fluffy companions don’t only spend their time barking at passing traffic or cats walking down the street but have extremely intelligent minds remarkably similar to humans. They are a constant source of comfort and provide emotional support whenever we need it, like we do for them. Despite the huge commitment and long-term responsibility owning a dog comes with, they are a constant companion who forms a very a special, unbreakable bond with their owner and provides unconditional love.
So, during this festive season why not appreciate the intelligent mind of your dog or secretly feed them a roast potato under the table? I’m sure that they would appreciate both (but perhaps the potato a little more).
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