Health Benefits of Being a Dog Owner

So everyone knows that dogs are man's best friend, but what if I told you that there are actual health benefits to owning a dog. Besides being adorable, playful, and fun, recent studies have shown health advantages to being a dog owner. A Swedish study found that dog owners had a lower risk of death due to cardiovascular disease than those who did not own a dog. Even adjusting the study for other risk factors such as smoking, BMI, and Socioeconomic status, those with a dog had less risk. Dogs maintain an active lifestyle so they keep their owners fit and active, which means another benefit can be weight loss. Personally, I have seen this as my brother lost 16 lbs just by adding daily walks into his schedule with our dog (Leroy). 

Dogs are also known to reduce stress levels of people (which is why therapy dogs are so effective). Spending even a few minutes with a dog can lower anxiety levels and blood pressure. Being a dog owner can also increase serotonin and dopamine levels, which is why dog owners are happier than other with no dogs. Increasing these levels can also stave off depression in many individuals. 

A few other health benefits of owning a dog:

    Decreased triglyceride levels 

    Increased social life 

    More resistant to allergies  

    Increased empathy

    Reduced risk of eczema

Another potential benefit of being a down owner is that some dogs have the me ability to smell cancer in the human body. Some dogs can be even trained to detect cancer. Scientists cannot confirm that getting a dog will definitively help a person live longer, however, they bring a lot of joy and companionship into a home. Owning a dog has been shown to prolong a healthy life.