Sharing Your Life With a Dog: 5 Benefits

"Citing research that dogs provide meaning to the lives of the humans caring for them, authors Lea and colleagues argue that having a dog provides consistency and helps establish traditions. Walking was oft-cited by participants as one established routine that brought joy. Also shared across participants was the notion of providing care for dogs (e.g., feeding) that contributed to the dog's happiness and overall feelings of happiness and positivity."

"A new study out of the University of Brighton asked pet owners about their relationship with their dog and different dimensions of dog ownership (e.g., "What aspect of the relationship with your dog do you enjoy most?"; "How does greeting your dog make you feel?"). An interview approach was used to delve into the lived experiences of dog owners, as studies in the field of human-animal interactions can report inconsistent findings,"

Pet owners participated in interviews about relationships with their dogs and dimensions of ownership; interviews lasted about 20 minutes and identified five benefit themes. Dogs create structure and routine by providing reasons to wake, daily responsibilities, walking rituals, and caregiving tasks that enhance positivity. Dogs boost mood through simple presence, affectionate greetings, and joyful behavior. Dogs foster social connections by linking owners to other people. Dogs require ongoing responsibility and effort, yet owners report that the benefits—meaning, routine, companionship, and increased well-being—make ownership worthwhile.

Read at Psychology Today