6 Reasons why you should get a dog

Dogs are amazing beings. They are loyal, sweet, attentive, positive, present, fun, devoted, affectionate, entertaining, and the list could go on and on forever.

Dogs are the man’s best friend. They are eternally by our side, always put us first, mend us when we feel broken, and keep us positive through thick and thin.  

If you’ve ever considered adopting a dog but aren’t entirely convinced, just ask any pet parent what their life would be like without a dog and pay close attention to their expression. The mere thought appears terrifying to them.

Dogs can make the biggest difference so here are a few reasons why you should have one in your life.

1. You will always have a friend in dogs.  

What defines a friendship? A friendship is a strong bond, a deep connection, and a harmonious and mutually beneficial relationship between two parties – a dog and his human.

Dogs have been our friends for thousands of years. You can find them in history books alongside kings, emperors, and pharaohs. You can read about their strong friendship with humans in poetry and literature and you can watch them in movies like Hachiko, Beethoven, and Lassie in which they are represented for what they are – true friends. Dogs are loyal in nature and they form lifelong, unbreakable bonds with their humans. Simply put, you are the most important person in your dog’s life. A dog will always be there for you to lend a paw when you need it and share in your heartbreaks and triumphs. As long as you have a dog, you will never be alone. Dogs are the best companion pets and friends we could wish for. Their devotion, friendship, and unconditional love give us the kind of memories that last a lifetime.

2. Having a dog improves your health

Dogs are natural healers. Having a dog as a companion pet comes with a great deal of health benefits. If you are familiar with the feeling you get when you look at a small puppy (tiny paws, fluffiness, big belly, tiny puppy ears) then you are on the right track of understanding how powerful a dog’s presence can be in your life.

For decades studies have shown that there is a direct correlation between dogs and happiness. Pet owners are less likely to suffer from heart-related problems and are generally happier. Dogs are known to reduce anxiety, have calming effects during moments of crisis, and lower blood pressure. Dogs are also great with therapy work. People suffering from depression have reported a significant improvement in their mood after adopting a puppy.  

Dogs are powerful medicine for both our physical and emotional well-being. Not only do they help us through difficult times, but they also bring out our inner child with their love for simple things. Dogs find pleasure in the tiniest of things. They are ecstatic to receive a stick, at their happiest chasing a ball, they are over the moon when we praise or cheer them, and they inspire us to match their positive mood.

3. A dog will keep you active and entertained.  

Dogs need to be active to stay healthy, and so do we. Having a dog means at least one good walk every day for both of you. Some dogs are more active while others are more laid-back, but either way, they need to be exercised. Whether you choose to go to a dog park to play catch, play a game of Frisbee, go on a hike, or for a swim, you and your dog will both be exercised and happy.  

Who doesn’t love a game of hide-and-seek or a camping trip? Dogs love games and adventures, especially ones they can play and go on with their pet parents. Playing a canine puzzle game at home or going on a camping trip in the mountains are great ways for both dog and dog owners to bond and share in a fun life together.  

Dogs love having a job to do. They like to keep busy with exploring, chewing, learning, or performing. Training a dog and watching them perform is both satisfying and entertaining for dog parents. Dogs also love their tricks and stunts. If you do adopt a dog, expect to be entertained by his funny antics and comedic behavior 24/7. 

4. Dogs are wonderful companion pets for children.  

Dogs and kids make best friends - especially when they grow up together. Adopting a dog for your children is highly beneficial for them. By growing up with a dog, a child will learn the art of responsibility early, develop a high sense of empathy and kindness, will benefit from improved self-esteem and overall health, and, as a bonus, the bond between a baby and a dog is a gift for you to watch develop. Children and dogs are equally playful and easily entertained. They could spend hours upon hours playing together and not get bored in the slightest.

Dogs are great babysitters, teachers, and motivators. Kids love their video games, social media platforms, and tablets. Once a dog enters their life, everything changes. Games and phones generally become a thing of the past for kids when they have a new four-legged buddy to play with around the clock.  

5. Dogs open up more opportunities for social interactions. 

Taking your dog on his daily walk is a social interaction opportunity. Dogs are highly social and friendly by nature. They like to go up to random people wiggling their cute tails in hopes of getting admired and petted, and that never fails to open a conversation window for us on the other end of the leash.  Just like children's playgrounds where new moms and dads connect, dog parks are a great place to make new friends with other dog moms and dog dads. Pet parents love their dogs dearly, and bonding over that type of love is a wonderful experience, plus, your dog gets to make new friends as well.  

6. Your dog will teach you a new language.  

Most pet parents aren’t aware of the fact that they understand the canine language their pet speaks because, let’s face it, none of us think we could possibly speak dog. Having a dog for even a year, watching him grow and mature into his lovely personality, will undoubtedly teach pet parents to understand what their dog is saying or wanting. Pet parents come to understand their dogs by the way they bark, whine, growl, move, wiggle their tails, or even stand.  

Adopt a dog and you will have one more thing to add to your resume under the language skill section, because you will, sooner or later, learn how to speak dog.  

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