Rosedale Doodles are dog and puppy experts who provide a wealth of tips and advice via social media, particularly Instagram, helping dog owners to not only care for their puppy or dog but also improve their own wellbeing in the process. This article will look at the health benefits of spending time in the company of a doting canine companion.
Adopting a dog may seem like a selfless act, but embracing pet ownership presents many advantages according to Jeremy Barron, MD, medical director of the Beecham Center for Geriatric Medicine.
Research shows that the simple act of petting a dog lowers levels of the stress hormone cortisol. In addition, social interaction between humans and dogs also increases levels of oxytocin, a powerful feel-good hormone. According to one study, interactions with a service dog culminated in a significant reduction in symptoms in 84% of patients with post-traumatic stress disorder, enabling 40% of study participants to decrease their medication.
Dog ownership encourages physical activity as dogs need to be walked in all weathers, providing an excuse-proof motivation for daily exercise and getting owners out in nature, which has well-reported psychological health benefits. Indeed, the American Heart Association endorsed dog ownership as a means of warding off cardiovascular disease in a recent report.
Just holding and petting an animal helps to keep blood pressure in check, allowing dog owners to appreciate the beauty of nature in an experience that Jeremy Barron describes as ‘relaxing and transcendental’.
A recent study by the University of British Columbia-Okanagan provided tangible evidence that canine interactions can change a person’s mental wellbeing for the better. In an assessment of 284 undergraduates, the study suggested that cuddling a dog boosted participants’ mood and overall wellbeing significantly.
John-Tyler Binfet – an associate professor at University of British Columbia-Okanagan – led the study, in which participants were assigned treatment conditions at random: touch or no-touch canine interaction and a handler-only condition with no dog present. Dr Binfet indicated that participants experienced enhanced wellbeing on several measures, but only those in direct contact reported significant improvements.
The research team found that students benefited from increased happiness and social connectedness and reduced stress, homesickness and loneliness following their interactions with canines. Dr Binfet hopes that the study will pave the way for more schools to provide access to service dogs, helping students to keep stress in check.
