9 Reasons Why You Should Get A Dog, Backed By Science

When we spot happy-go-lucky dogs on our commute or play with our pets at home, we know what genuine love and happiness feel like. The animal lovers will definitely vouch for the fact that dogs bring about an ear-to-ear smile, touch that warm spot in the heart, and elate you.

And it is not just a well-seen and experienced fact, but science says so too. Some of the notable reasons as backed by science to get home a dog right away, are:

1. They keep your heart healthy and happy

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Because loving them is the easiest thing to do, and also, because according to a study by the researchers at the American Heart Association, owning a dog cuts down on your risk of falling prey to cardiovascular diseases.

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2. Dogs crack you up

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Just seeing them sleeping in a funny position, say on their backs with legs up, is enough to make us laugh. According to a study published in the journal Society And Animals, researchers found that those who owned dogs and both dogs and cats laughed more than those who kept either just cats or neither. Dogs are funny, hence proved!

 

3. They possess the ability to detect fatal diseases like cancer

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A dog’s sense of smell is stronger than ours- something most of us know already. But did you know it is 1 million times stronger than that of humans? And so working dogs are used extensively for hunting and tracking operations.

But that’s not it. Your regular dog can even be trained to find the differences in the breath of those on early and late stages of lung and breast cancers. They could even be trained to help in early detection of prostate cancer by sniffing the signs in urine. Furthermore, they can even sense an impending seizure up to 15 minutes before it occurs, and they declare the signs by barking, so as to alarm the patient to sit in order to prevent injuries from falling.

 

4. Interaction with dogs keeps your stress levels in control and as a result lowers your blood pressure too

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Oh, they care for you, and you don’t exactly have to understand their language to make them feel your woes and joys. You become sad before them, and they will know it! And medically speaking, mental stress triggers blood pressure issues, and American Heart Association says dogs can help you keep your numbers in control.

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5. They have helped smokers quit

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According to a study, 28 percent smokers quit on learning the harmful effects of second-hand smoke on their dogs.

 

6. They keep you on your toes

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In 2011, researchers at Michigan State University reported that 60% of regular dog walkers met the federal criteria for regular simple or rigorous exercise. Also, a study published in the Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services in 2010 reported that elderly dog walkers are fitter that the elderly who walk with other people.

 

7. They are great companions, especially for the elderly.

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According to a study published in Journal of Social Psychology, elderly dog owners are more at ease with their social, physical and mental state than those who don’t own dogs.

 

8. They help you find people of your own breed, thus helping you become social.

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Now this is a common knowledge but, science backs it too. A team of scientists at Universities of Liverpool and Bristol found that the UK dog owners were more likely to encounter people with dogs than those without.

 

9. They boost confidence

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As part of a study, subjects were asked to spend 10 months with their new dog. Afterwards, the participants were found to have developed a higher sense of self-esteem, improved exercise habits, and a reduced fear for crime.

So all of you who have been deciding whether or not to get a pet dog, I hope these science-backed reasons will help you make a confirmed decision.

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