They say you always remember your first … your first dog, that is! The first dog that I considered “my dog” was a cross-bred Lab/Retriever mix named Fred, after Fred Flintstone, the greatest actor of all time. (But Fred was a female dog, so I guess her formal name was Frederica.) I loved that dog more than I thought possible. She was my dog, I was her boy, and we went everywhere together.
I’ve had dogs ever since, and it’s usually the Golden Retriever rescues that steal my heart. Dogs have always been a blessing in my life, and I know I’m not alone in my penchant for them. Research has shown that pets can have a broad variety of benefits on mental and physical health, including:
Companionship
- Pets can provide unconditional love and support.
- They can help you feel wanted and needed.
- They can help ease feelings of loneliness and depression.
Physical activity
- Pets can encourage you to go for walks or runs.
- They can remind you to get outside and get some fresh air.
Stress reduction
- Petting a dog or spending time with cats can lower the stress hormone cortisol in your blood.
- The interaction between people and their dogs increases levels of the feel-good hormone oxytocin for both.
In addition, pets can help instill confidence, improve focus, facilitate social interaction, increase resilience, help those with learning disabilities regulate stress and achieve inner calm, and offer a sense of purpose.
In fact, they might just be the easiest medicine to take.