Descendants of wolves, dogs have become our constant companions and now exist in a plethora of different breeds. Here are 19 compelling reasons dogs deserve the title ‘man’s best friend’ and are truly the best pet of all.
Unconditional Love
While they might be unable to express it in words, dogs show us their unconditional love like no other pet. They don’t care about your appearance, finances, or lifestyle choices, and they love you no matter how many mistakes you’ve made! This unwavering adoration can make even the lowliest person feel special.
Loyalty
Michelson Found Animals states, “Loyalty is also just a natural behavior for dogs. Dogs are pack animals, meaning they are social creatures who prefer the company of other animals.”
In a modern world of brief friendships and short attention spans, dogs offer dependable, consistent companionship that’s hard to beat.
Social Catalysts
If you’ve ever taken a dog to a dog park or out walking among strangers, you’ll know they make excellent icebreakers and conversation starters. A study in the National Library of Medicine found pet dogs made it easier for their owners to make friends and connect with other people, greatly enhancing their lives and social success.
Mental Health Boosters
The Guardian claims dogs can have a ‘magical effect’ on their owners’ mental health—boosting their mood, alleviating stress and anxiety, and reducing the likelihood of depression. Canine companionship triggers ‘good feelings’ similar to a human parent/baby bond but with far less crying and hard work!
Improve Fitness
Owning a dog encourages regular exercise, promoting a healthier lifestyle. The Mayo Clinic writes that feeling obligated to exercise your dog ensures regular exercise like walking, playing fetch, or swimming, and can improve motivation, fitness, and cardiovascular health. The effect is greatest with larger, more athletic breeds like Spaniels and Pointers.
Security
Even the smallest dogs are natural protectors, whether in their homes or out and about. Their acute hearing, sense of smell, and instinct to protect their pack make them excellent deterrents to crimes like burglary, assault, home invasion, and violent crime. Pet Safe lists a dog’s greatest security attributes as barking, loyalty, and speed.
Teach Responsibility
PetMD asserts that dogs make excellent family pets for teaching children responsibility. Caring for a dog and meeting all its needs takes work, empathy, and planning, while learning to feed, walk, groom, and train a dog teaches children valuable lessons about caregiving and the value of responsible pet ownership.
Bring Comfort
In times of illness, sorrow, or loneliness, dogs have a unique ability to provide comfort without words. Country Living even reports that dogs are used in therapy to help people suffering immense grief. Their ability to ‘pick up’ on human moods and offer their presence as support is both comforting and healing.
Boost Self-Esteem
Unsurprisingly, dogs’ unconditional love and unwavering friendship can help people with low self-esteem. If the human world seems unfriendly, judgmental, and unappreciative, dogs can give a person a significant confidence boost, making them feel more worthwhile and valued.
Encourage Routine
Dogs thrive on routine and are surprisingly good timekeepers. The American Kennel Club says, “The responsibility of caring for a dog can provide a sense of routine and structure, which is particularly helpful for those struggling with mental health challenges.” The necessity of regular toileting, walks, playtime, and meals can help bring their owners purpose and consistency.
Reduce Loneliness
For those living alone or with limited social interaction, the constant companionship dogs provide helps alleviate loneliness. While standard conversations may be impossible, dogs crave interaction and have their own ways of communicating and responding to their owners’ needs, making them an excellent replacement for human company.
Aid in Recovery
Prestige Care states that dogs are used in AAT (animal-assisted therapy) and can significantly speed up recovery times for people with various ailments, including physical injuries, mental health issues, and developmental disorders. Interacting with dogs often results in patients experiencing improved mood, mobility, and faster healing.
Promote Laughter
Dogs can be goofy and hilarious and have an uncanny ability to bring laughter and joy into a home. Their playful antics, curious nature, and expressive faces are often a source of merriment and can help lighten the mood, especially on tough days. Such silliness is sure to entertain and improve the lives of everyone they live with.
Adaptable
According to The Wildest, “dogs have a natural ability to cope with novelty” and are great at adapting to different situations and living environments. Whether you live on acres of farmland or in a penthouse city apartment, there is a dog to suit you. This adaptability also goes for lifestyle; there are dogs to suit fitness fanatics, outdoor enthusiasts, and couch potatoes!
Teach Empathy
Dogs are typically much more expressive than aloof cats, reptiles, and birds, and interacting with them teaches compassion. Understanding and responding to non-verbal cues (like knowing when your dog is hungry, depressed, or in pain) is important in providing adequate care and keeping your pet happy—a vital lesson in empathy, especially for children.
Improve Social Skills
For people who struggle to develop and improve their social skills, dogs can play a crucial role as ‘practice’ friends! For children especially, their unconditional friendship can help them learn social cues and about boundaries and respect. Dogs can even be a social skills booster for shy or awkward adults.
Living in the Moment
Dogs don’t worry about the mistakes they made last year or what will happen tomorrow; they live entirely in the moment. Watching a dog fully immerse themselves in the present can inspire their owners, helping them appreciate simple pleasures, like a sunny day or a good meal, and reduce stress and anxiety.
Medical Skills
It’s not just mental health and recovery that your canine pal can assist with—some dogs are also capable of sensing life-threatening health problems. Medical News Today reports that, besides reducing blood pressure and cholesterol, some dogs can sniff out cancerous tumors and alert diabetics to imminent blood-sugar dips/spikes.
Familial Harmony
It’s hard to argue with your family member if it’s upsetting the family dog! Typically adored by everyone, dogs have an uncanny ability to improve household dynamics, strengthen bonds, and reduce fighting. Sharing the joy of dog ownership, like playing or walking together, also helps improve familial unity and promote teamwork.
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