Sunday, May 25, 2014

The Many Benefits Of Dog Ownership

By Garrett McMahan


If you already own a dog or several dogs, it's probably no surprise to you that having a dog in your life has many benefits. Not only are they great companions, they also can improve your health in many ways. Here are just a few of the many positive aspects of pet ownership.

Your kids definitely will benefit from having a dog around. School-age children can improve their level of responsibility by handling some of your pet's care. This includes making sure your pet has food and water, as well as helping bathe the dog and brush his fur. Older children can take the dog for walks, and this also provides exercise for both of them. Infants actually see some benefits too as studies have shown that having a dog in the home reduces the likelihood of developing allergies to dogs later in life.

Both children and adults with emotional difficulties or those who have suffered a loss or trauma also benefit from interaction with dogs. People who own dogs have been found to be less affected by depression as well as seasonal affective disorder. Dogs also help us combat loneliness as they not only give plenty of love, they also enjoy receiving love and attention. It also has been shown that simply petting a dog can lower your blood pressure and dog owners also tend to heal from illness or a traumatic injury faster than those without pets.

Dogs also make us healthier in general because dogs need exercise and so do we. When you head out for that morning walk, you and your pet are enjoying some excellent cardiovascular exercise. While this exercise certainly benefits your dog, people who exercise regularly have lower rates of heart disease, as well as lowering their risk of diabetes and other serious ailments. Owning a dog is also very social as dog owners frequently chat while they are out walking their pet. Head to the dog park or go out for a walk, and you and your dog both might make some new friends.

We've all seen "beware of dog" signs tacked to homes, and owning a dog definitely can be a deterrent to burglars. You don't have to have a German shepherd or a trained attack dog in order to be safer. Dogs have excellent hearing and they will begin to bark before you hear or sense an intruder. The barking can even keep burglars from taking a chance at breaking into your home. Additionally, dogs also have saved many people from house fires and even go out to seek help if their owner has been injured and needs assistance. A dog also can protect your children from wild animals or other dogs, if the occasion arises.

While all of these benefits are great, if your dog exhibits a host of troubling and irritating behavior, you probably aren't enjoy your relationship as much as you could. Fortunately with a bit of patience and time, most problems can be solved with good dog training. You don't even have to leave your home or call in a trainer. Most of the time, a dog training video program, such as The Dog's Way, can help you teach your dog all the basics, such as sitting, staying, laying down, coming when you call, obeying boundaries and not running away. You also can curb issues such as excessive barking, jumping and chewing on your possessions. The Dog's Way includes five dog training DVDs that include one dozen step-by-step lessons, as well as corresponding workbook, 15 reminder cards and access to a special website just for customers.




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