5 x why a dog is good for your health

The highlight of my day? Coming home and being greeted by my sweet furball Sjaan. Whether I've been gone for ten minutes or the whole day: no one is happier with my return than she is. That feeling is, of course, completely mutual. Dogs are the most loyal creatures that exist. They give you unconditional love, and you don't have to do much for it. I can't imagine that there are people who think differently about this. Okay, maybe cat lovers. But still, people who have never had a dog are really missing something in their lives, you know. When I feel sad or grumpy, Sjaan always knows how to cheer me up. She just has to look at me with that sweet little face, and my bad mood disappears. Besides being very cozy to have a dog, it's also good for your health. Here come the reasons.

1. Fresh air
Rain or shine: you have to take your dog outside at least three times a day. The fresh air is not only good for your pet but also for you. You produce vitamin D from the light, and we could all use this vitamin. Another big advantage: it's good for your self-image. People who walk for 90 minutes in nature think less negatively about themselves, as researchers from LifeScience found out. Being in nature reduces the stress hormone cortisol, and by walking, you produce the happiness hormone serotonin. So, an ideal boost for you and your dog.

2. Less asthma and allergies
Children who grow up with a dog in the house from birth have much less trouble with asthma and allergies than children who grow up in a house without a dog. They develop a larger amount of bacteria that protect the airways, according to Swedish (University of Gothenburg) research. The study followed more than a thousand children from birth to about seven years old. Of the children who spent their first year in a house without pets, 49 percent developed an allergy. Among the children with one pet, that was 43 percent, and in families with three pets, 24 percent. The more animals, the better, I would say.

3. Exercise
A dog forces you to move and burn more calories. Especially a long walk in the woods or on the beach really adds up. Research (again Swedish) shows that 60 percent of the surveyed dog owners get the recommended amount of exercise or even exceed it. And sufficient physical activity reduces the risk of various diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. I only see benefits.

4. Happiness
Research (surprise: Swedish) shows that people with a dog laugh more and more often than people without a dog. I hear you thinking: why do they do so much research on dogs in Sweden? Here's the thing: in Sweden, everyone must register their dog. This means it's known whether each Swede has a dog or not. Quite handy data for research. Okay, back to laughing. We all know that laughing is good for you. It reduces stress in your body. You produce endorphins, serotonin, and dopamine when you laugh. These substances promote relaxation and give you a feeling of happiness, and happiness contributes to better immunity.

5. Social contacts
Social contact makes you happier and healthier. Research from the University of Liverpool shows that dog owners have more contact with others than people without a dog. I notice this myself, because when I walk with Sjaan on the street, I chat much more with people (with dogs) than when I walk alone. Another good reason to get a dog. I say: go for it.

Source: eoswetenschap.eu