Benefits of Welcoming A Dog As Your Family Member

Not long ago, I was leading a life in which I always ensured I moved as far away as possible from any dog that shared the same street with me. This, despite the fact that I loved dogs when I was young and had one pet at home for about 10 years when I was in school. After she was gone, fear for dogs settled in and then it was a life sans pets. 

I definitely have to thank my son whose relentless requests to welcome a pet made us decide to just go ahead. Then Chezhi came into our life…to stay and to conquer. Benefits of welcoming a dog as your family member are immense and I am already experiencing most of them. Here we go.

Benefits of Having A Dog At Home As Your Family Member

The benefits of having a dog at home are immense. More so, if you consider your dog as your family member. Here are some of the most important benefits of welcoming a dog into your home.

1) You Receive Unconditional Love

First things first. Dogs love unconditionally. Of course, humans do have the capacity to love unconditionally and probably you already are blessed with a family that loves you unconditionally. But, a pet can introduce you to a whole new world where love reigns supreme. So what happens to someone who experiences love in its purest form…precisely that is what happens to you when you welcome a pet into your family. You are completely surrounded by love…you enjoy a state of bliss. You enjoy purest happiness.

2) Your Stress Levels Go Down

Stress is one of the most common conditions found in global population. Ever since corona stuck, the percentage of people affected by stress has also increased multi-fold. Precisely, it was during this period, adoption of pets was on the rise. Studies have proved that petting a dog lowers cortisol, the stress hormone. Petting your dog increases your oxytocin aka love hormone levels and makes you happy. The more happy you are, lesser becomes your stress.

Loneliness is one of the triggers of stress. Dogs offer great company. With a pet dog at home, you will never feel lonely.

3) Your Fitness Levels Go Up

With dog comes responsibility. You need to walk your dog regularly, play and give the canine member exercise. The only way to do all these is to do all these together. When you set goals for your four-legged friend, you are setting goals for yourself and naturally your fitness levels go up.

You can never skip going out for a walk when you have a pet at home. Who can refuse those gorgeous eyes looking at you requesting to be taken out?

4) Your Heart Health Improves

According to a study, having a dog in your life lowers cardiovascular risk. It is reported that having a dog member at home improves lipid profile, lowers blood pressure levels and also helps to handle stressful situations better. And you know too well dogs make you happy. What does one need more for a healthy heart?

5) Your Social Interaction Improves

Ever since I started taking Chezhi out for a walk, I have found things to be a lot different. Earlier, I would easily get past a street without being noticed. Now, almost every street that we walk through, I find at least three to four persons who walk past with a smile and at least one person stops for a chat about pets or to pet Chezhi. And there are other dog parents who walk their pets. Having a dog really improves your social interactions thereby helping your communication skills.

Man being a social animal, positive social interactions keep humans emotionally stable. Social interaction supports brain health as well.

6) You Become A Super Structured Person

Pets redefine your schedule, your working style, your activities; in short, they redefine your life. You might have already been a stickler for schedules but with a pet at home you become even more super structured. Your ability to multi-task improves greatly, you plan your day very systematically and stick to it. Not only you plan well but you plan in advance too. 

Dogs love stability; if you are being unpredictable, it is going to be tough for your pet. Leading a structured life helps in more than a way. Your lifestyle would be healthy, you will be prepared for the day, your stress levels will go down and all these will create a sense of stability in you. Your pet is going to simply love you for that. 

These are just a few of the many benefits we experience with a pet member at home. 

What do pets get in return? In fact very little to what we receive from them. Of course, they have human family to love, a safe home and food on time.

Still, all these are nothing in comparison to what we get from them. Their unconditional love, devotion and loyalty are unmatched. All we can do is to give them at least some quality time and lots of love.