At this point it is important to consider the vital part dogs play when it comes to your wellbeing.
This post is about how having a dog can make you more content and happy with yourself, because lets face it, who doesn't love a good cuddle from their pup?
Dogs can help relieve stress massively, which is extremely relevant at the moment with all of the uncertainty going round. Even if you're working from home, it will still seem like there is endless things to do. Sometimes it is good to take some time aside to have a cuddle, try it, it'll do wonders!
According to Psychology Today, universities such as the University of British Columbia and companies such as Etsy. They have both offered some simple dog based strategies to help tackle stress! The University of British Columbia for example, brought therapy dogs, and provided over 240 students with the opportunity to pet and cuddle dogs during drop in sessions.
What was even more shocking was the results - a large decrease in their stress level was reported and accounted to increased happiness and higher energy.
Other universities, such as the University of Lincoln, have introduced dog friendly events where students can come and cuddle dogs, and luckily, these events often fall during exam periods!
Dogs are not just for reducing stress, but they are also great when it comes to connecting us with nature.
You may not consider it, but think about the different places you have been with your dog, that you may have otherwise not realised it existed.
The website Dogs for Good, quoting Stephen Jenkinson, the Access Advisor to The Kennel Club said: “for so long, ‘dog walking’ was taken for granted and overlooked as something of benefit to society.
"But now, all my work revolves around supporting the very real and sustained benefits to people’s physical and mental health, from something as simple as a walk in the park with their dog.”
Getting the opportunity to explore nature also helps us bond with our dog by spending some quality time outside with them, and the fresh air may really help clear your mind, and may put some things that have been on your mind into a reasonable perspective.
Coming back to Psychology today, they also make an excellent point about how dogs can offer you empathy. Have you ever found that when you are upset and when your dog is with you, they will often come over to you. Well, that is pretty much it.
They said that this is known as emotional contagion, which is known as feelings being spread between animals and people.
And there we have it - dogs can have multiple positive benefits on us, especially during this time where we will be likely to be experiencing negative emotions.
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