With 27% of UK adults also dog owners, dogs have been the ultimate canine companions for many years. One of the reasons dogs make such great pets? These animals have been proven by research to improve our mental well-being, while the therapeutic value of the dog and owner relationship is being increasingly recognised by scientists around the world. Keep reading to discover 5 ways dogs can improve your mental health.
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Dogs help manage anxiety
With rates of people saying they were feeling anxious increasing during and after the pandemic, now more than ever, people are struggling with anxiety. By providing companionship and support to their owners, dogs can help manage anxiety and relieve stress just by sticking by your side.
Dogs can help you be more active
Exercise and staying active have been proven to improve your mental health, mood, and sleep – and dogs give you the ultimate reason to go outside and get some fresh air. Even if you’re not running laps with your canine companion, just going for a walk once a day can still have some serious health benefits.
Dogs can reduce work-related stress
The pandemic has led to many workers feeling stressed, exhausted, and burnt out. And the disruption and uncertainty caused by this period are still having effects on workers today. However, studies show that having dogs in the workplace can significantly reduce stress and improve employee satisfaction.
Dogs can help increase productivity
It doesn’t matter what sector you work in, the company of dogs has been proven to increase worker productivity. For example, when a dog joins a virtual meeting, members say they rank their colleagues higher on trust, camaraderie and team cohesion.
Dogs make you like you’re not alone
Dogs provide a sense of togetherness that you can’t really get elsewhere or from any other animals. It’s the special bond between dog and dog owner that means when they see, touch, or even hear from their canine companion, they’ll feel a sense of joy, goodwill and most importantly, happiness.
How to give the love dogs give you, right back to them
Since dogs help improve our mental health in so many ways, it’s normal to want to give back all the love they give us. By making sure your canine companion has everything they need like a comfortable dog bed, plenty of dog toys, and tasty food that will also benefit their health, you can care for them just as much as they care for you.
There’s a reason dogs have been the UK’s favoured pet of choice for so long. They love us unconditionally. They’re entirely indifferent to gender, race, or even clothes size. And they help boost our mental health in more ways than one.
