The phrase "mans best friend" is derived from dogs serving people. It stems from the constant companionship and loyalty dogs show. Pets can be our best friends and improve our mood of a bad day. Dogs are a source of comfort in stressful settings and situations. Many pets including dogs can be life long companions. Pets make great anxiety and stress reducers because we release oxytocin when being affectionate with our pets. Pets can also fill the emptiness in our homes. A study performed to measure heart rate and blood pressure showed that dogs have a positive influence on our heart rate and blood pressure (Baun et al. 1984,Allen et al. 2002,Virués-Ortega and Buela-Casal 2006). This is great news for dog owners who want to relax more.
Although, not all pets are easy to manage there are many benefits to owning one. All pets require some attention and require a responsible owner. Food, space, veterinarian check ups, walks, and grooming are some of the tasks your expected to handle as a pet owner. This means not everyone can own a pet especially if you are disabled.
Other studies showed the average walking distances of dog owners is larger that non dog owners. In fact, older people with dogs are covering an average daily distance of 1,500 meters (approximately 0.95 miles), depending on the garden property. (Scheibeck, 2011) Other studies that have taken indicate that people with Dementia can benefit from owning a dog. This study was published in the National Library of Medicine. (Larsen and Lingaas 1997,Perkins et al. 2008, Tribet et al. 2008)
If you have a caregiver or a family member that can help then you don't have to worry as much. Losing a pet is a big loss especially if you have formed a bond with your pet. Losing a pet can leave us feeling at a loss, confused, and even in grief. There are many options for help including Champion Care caregiving services. Please check out our services page for more information including a free estimate or place your order for a caregiver today. The process is easy and we can have a reliable caregiver at you door in a few days.
Citation:
Scheibeck, R., Pallauf, M., Stellwag, C., & Seeberger, B. (2011). Elderly people in many respects benefit from interaction with dogs. European Journal of Medical Research, 16(12), 557. https://doi.org/10.1186/2047-783x-16-12-557