Becoming a dog owner requires some serious thought. So much of this decision is centered around how and if you can be exactly what your dog would need with a packed work schedule or even, under your housing property rules. If you’re still torn over your pros and cons list, then this is the perfect article to help you with your decision-making process. Owning a dog provides more than just companionship and cute Instagram content. Owning a dog can help calm and untangle the anxieties of your actual wellbeing.
Research has shown:
Dog owners tend to have lower blood pressure
Dog owners who have suffered heart attacks live longer than heart attack patients that are not dog owners
Dog owners have lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels, which are indicators of heart disease
Dog owners have a higher level of exercise due to increased physical activities such as dog walking, hiking, running etc
Many research has shown that dogs play a key role in reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. Becoming a dog owner is a unique kind of empowerment that boosts mental health in different ways.
Stability
A large part of the responsibility of dog owning, is that dogs require a lot of structure in their day to day. They need routine walking, a concrete feeding schedule, and 24/7 TLC. This kind of structure is essential in ensuring your dog is well balanced and can help do the same for you. Keeping your dog’s life well-structured helps ease the chaos in your own life, in turn, giving you the structure you need as well.
Self-Worth & Self-Love
Many psychiatrists believe that strong self-esteem is built by taking responsibility and ownership. Taking care of a dog instills a sense of self-trust, and self-worth. The ability to care for another creature offers the reassurance and confidence to properly take care of yourself. The companionship and unconditional love that dogs provide, cements a real happiness in your life, which help unearth an unconditional level of self-love.
However, if you are unsure whether the timing is right for you to become a dog owner, we would be happy to help you decide! On The Paws App, you can apply for dog walking and dog sitting, and spend some one on one time with new furry friends!
Community
While the company and companionship of your dog is unique, becoming a dog owner means you have now been welcomed into the all loving dog-owning community. Spending the day at the park with your dog lets you meet other owners, most likely, with many of the same interests as you. Dog owning helps increase socialization, which has been known to alleviate loneliness and depression. It’s also a great way for your dog to make new friends!