I believe that owning a dog is one of the best things you can do to improve your wellbeing.
As a dog owner myself, how impactful would I say having a dog can be on one’s health and wellbeing? The short answer is that having a dog has changed my life.
It’s changed my life in ways that I didn’t even know were possible. The health benefits of having a dog go far beyond what I had ever imagined. I’ve transformed my physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing completely.
And that’s the key — “I’ve” made these changes in my life. Having a dog has enabled ME to make my life better.
When I made the decision to adopt my furry friend, I had no idea I was making a decision to improve my lifestyle and therefore, my overall health.
The idea here isn’t to get a dog and expect them to automatically change everything. Just like with anything involving YOUR health and YOUR wellbeing, the onus is on YOU to make changes. It’s not your dog’s responsibility — it’s yours.
Dogs are incredible companions — but they do not have superpowers. The ‘work’ is still on you to improve your wellbeing. But your dog will be an undoubtedly crucial tool to help you get there.
The physical health benefits of having a dog
Some of the first changes I felt when I adopted my dog were related to how I felt physically.
While there are countless physical health benefits of having a dog, there are a few that really stood out to me right from the get-go.
Increased cardiovascular activity and overall mobility
I’ve become so much more active since adopting my little exercise buddy — a win for both of us!
I take my dog on at least two daily walks. One in the morning, one in the evening, and maybe one in between depending on the day.
I’ve always loved going on long walks, but it’s something that over the past couple years I rarely made the time to do. But now I HAVE to make the time to do it — because if not, a little energetic furry fella is going to be pretty upset with me.
This alone has changed the way that I live my day-to-day life. In the past, the first thing I would do when I woke up was check my phone and scroll through Instagram.
Now I get up, go straight outside, get in some cardiovascular activity (i.e. walking), drink water, and get on with my morning — all before even checking my phone.
This just sets me up in a completely different way to tackle the day ahead.
Improve your wellbeing by spending time outside
Boy, do dogs just love being outside. And I’ve learned that I do too!
Spending even a few minutes outside is like taking a breath of fresh air… literally.
Just by taking ten or so minutes every couple of hours to step outside, you’re drastically increasing the amount of sunlight that your body absorbs. In case you didn’t know, Vitamin D is vital for bone and muscle strength — leading to a healthier body and increased overall wellbeing.
When I’m outside with my dog we usually end up playing, even if it’s just a little tug-of-war with one of her toys or a quick game of fetch. It doesn’t sound like much, but after only a few minutes of this ‘light’ playing I find that I’m out of breath and I’ve broken quite the sweat — more exercise!
The mental health benefits of having a dog
The mental health benefits of having a dog are probably the ones that hit me the hardest — in a really, really good way, of course.
My dog has taught me so much about mindfulness and mental wellbeing, which has encouraged me to take my mental health more seriously.
Gratitude can improve your wellbeing
Having a dog has helped me fall in love with the ‘small’ and ‘mundane’ moments throughout the day that I used to completely take for granted.
Dogs are overwhelmingly grateful for the smallest things, and I’ve learned to do the same.
The simplest things — like arriving home after work, have changed for me. It used to feel like the most mundane thing ever. It happens every day. Why be stoked about that?
Ask your dog why, and in their own way they’ll tell you that it’s because you simply came home. Think about it — what a blessing. Not to turn onto too much of a dark note, but not everyone gets to return home after a day of work. But you did. Be grateful for it!
Now, I never miss the opportunity to feel gratitude for getting home after being out. A rush of happiness flows through my body as I put my key in the door, knowing my little ray of sunshine is about to give me the most wholesome welcome-home embrace.
It’s the same one she gave me yesterday and the day before that. But that feeling NEVER gets old. In moments like these your body also releases ‘happy hormones’ like serotonin and oxytocin, which stabilize your mood and reduce anxiety.
Living in the present moment
I’m not sure why, but one thing I’ve always struggled with is being fully in the present moment.
You know who doesn’t struggle with that? Your dog.
Dogs have this admirable ability to fully immerse themselves in the present moment. They’re absolutely loving life and whatever it is that they’re doing then and there. They’re not thinking about what they did yesterday or what they’ll do tomorrow.
We as humans weigh ourselves down so much with things that are out of our control, instead of just enjoying what we have in front of us.
I’ll never get tired of seeing the sheer happiness on my dog’s face when she sees me get up to open the door to let her outside. She lives for this, she can’t get enough.
And yet it’s so simple. All I’m doing is letting her outside, and to her it’s the absolute best thing ever. It makes you think: “huh, going outside is kinda cool, isn’t it?” I have health. I can go outside and feel the breeze on my skin, smell the grass and the trees, inhale the fresh air.
How have I never realized how cool “outside” is?” Maybe it’s because I’ve never taken the time to notice it.
The emotional health benefits of having a dog
Dogs are very well known for their benefits on our emotional health.
As someone who didn’t grow up with dogs, I always wondered what people meant by that. Now I get it.
Companionship and reduced loneliness
Like many of us out there, I’ve had periods in my life where loneliness was a common theme. It’s not because I didn’t have anyone, I just didn’t have that feeling of companionship.
This feeling of companionship and reduced loneliness is one of the key emotional health benefits of having a dog. It encourages emotional regulation and helps buffer stress, anxiety, and emotional overload.
This is especially important for us introverts, as we don’t typically seek social interaction and connections throughout the day. Even as introverts, we still benefit from having some company — albeit canine (even better!).
Increased feelings of safety and belonging
There’s a lot of crazy stuff going on in the world. A lot of uncertainty, which doesn’t necessarily lend itself to the feeling of safety for many of us.
I receive great comfort knowing that at the end of the day, I can come home and provide a safe world for my little companion.
I know that I am her safe place, and that fills my heart with warmth. Amidst a world full of who-knows-what, I am cultivating a safe and warm environment for my little buddy, who is my world.
She knows I’ll never let her down and I know she’ll never let me down. We’re there for each other and that’s that. Trust me, this bond and mutual understanding really does increase feelings of safety and belonging.
Are you ready to improve your wellbeing?
Remember — you’re not looking for a dog to be the ‘missing piece of the puzzle’. That missing piece is there, within you. What a dog will do is help you find it and improve your wellbeing.
Your dog genuinely just wants to see you happy — that’s all they want. It’s their goal in life.
Sometimes I sit there looking at my dog after a long walk and think, “this guy just wants me to be happy”. They say that dogs are the only thing out there that will love you more than it loves itself — and it definitely FEELS true.
So, does this mean your next step is to go out and adopt a dog? Not necessarily.
What you could benefit from now is scheduling a call with a certified health coach — like Chandra Wellbeing — in order to explore next steps for improving your health and wellness moving forward.
