Sunday, June 8, 2014

The Benefits Of Owning A Dog

By Garrett McMahan


It's no surprise to dog owners that there are a myriad of benefits gained from owning one or more dogs. These special furry companions are not known as man's best friend for no reason. Read on and you will discover some of the positive aspects of owning a dog.

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.

Dogs also provide a good source of home security. After all, if you were a burglar, wouldn't you be less likely to enter a home when you hear a barking dog? Even if the dog is small, the noise can alert the owner or neighbors that suspicious activity is occurring. Dogs also have been known to wake up family members when a house is on fire, and this could truly save your life or the life of your loved ones. If you fall and injure yourself, whether at home or perhaps while hiking or jogging, a dog can run and find help and then lead assistance back to you. There are also stories of dogs keeping children and adults safe from wild animal attacks or attacks from vicious dogs.

One key to a successful dog-owner relationship is training. Often it is lack of training that causes a dog to end up in a shelter. However, with a simple dog training program, your pet can learn all of the essential behavior skills that are needed. This includes learning how to walk properly on a leash, come whenever you call him, to cease barking on command and to sit and stay. Using a DVD system can make it easy to train at home and The Dog's Way provides you with 12 lessons that teach all of the basics. The lessons are spread among five dog training DVDs, and the system also includes reminder cards ideal for taking on a walk and a helpful workbook that follows each lesson. The sooner you start training, the sooner you will have a companion that is well-behaved and fun to have around each and every day.




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