Here in America, we love our furry canine companions.
They have even gained the title of "man's best friend" throughout history.
But, what is it about these lovable and loyal pets that make them such a great addition to our households and families? The basis for our lasting love for dogs dates back centuries and it is a subject that has been studied for years, in fact.
Everyone already knows that dogs are cuddly and adorable, putting smiles on even the most ill tempered and surly faces.
But it is a little known fact that owning a dog can actually improve your overall health and quality of life! That's right.
Fido may actually be helping you on your path to a long and healthy life.
Owners of dogs (and cats as well) have been shown to suffer less from allergies.
Studies conducted are even suggesting that children in households that own a furred pet are at a lesser risk for allergies and asthma.
Surprising? Not really.
When one is exposed to the air born bacteria produced from animal dander at an early age, they gain immunity to it.
And the health benefits of owning a dog don't end there, either.
Having that cute canine friend in your home can lessen anxiety, lower your blood pressure, and boost immunity.
In other words, they are great stress fighters! After that long and stressful day at the office, who wouldn't want to come home to a companion who will instantly greet you at the door and show you unconditional love, again and again? It is this show of affection and love that has promoted a more stress-free lifestyle to many.
This has been shown to make the quality of life better, and overall, makes a person healthier.
In addition to fighting off stress and anxiety, people suffering from depression can also greatly benefit from owning a pet.
Pet owners are much less likely to be lonely.
Loneliness is a major contributing factor in a person's depression, but with a dog in your home, you are much less likely to be lonesome.
In addition, pets are naturally calming, which helps ward off depression.
It is clear that having a dog is good for the mind and soul, as well as the body.
So we know that dogs are great for your health and quality of life-but it is also shown that they make excellent matchmakers! It's true.
Owning that charming dog can actually gain you a date.
But how would a dog help you get a date? First and foremost, they are natural conversation starters.
This would especially help shy individuals who may otherwise find it difficult to come out of their shells.
Having your furry best friend there can ease you out of social anxiety, enabling conversation.
Once you get the conversation going, you may find you have found the perfect match! Or, you may just find a new friend who you have a lot in common with-and thanks to your pet, you were able to start a conversation easily and in a relaxed manner.
Who knew dogs could be so helpful? It's obvious that dogs provide a lot of fun and play for your household, but for families with children, owning a dog can also provide educational stimulus.
Owning a pet teaches responsibility.
In performing tasks such as feeding, grooming, and exercising a pet, children will develop an awareness for the care and responsibilities of having a pet.
Dogs in your home can also help your child's attention span.
One study concluded that just the presence of a dog aided in children's responsiveness and attention.
So in conclusion to this study, owning a dog can be very educationally rewarding for children.
It is quite clear the benefits of owning a dog are many.
They provide us with companionship, love, and loyalty, but also help our minds and bodies.
They better our lives (and health) in various ways, and in addition, provide social relaxation in shy situations and educational benefits to our families.
And in all the good things they do for our lives, we can return the favor by giving our best friends proper care, affection, and unconditional love.