The Benefits of Owning a Family Dog

1. The Benefits of Owning a Family Dog Dogs have been beloved family pets for thousands of years as countless tomb paintings, ancient artefacts and texts reveal. No one can pinpoint exactly when the hound was domesticated, but we are certain that it was the first tame animal to live with humans. History also shows that dogs were not only used to help with hunting, guarding, carrying, and herding but also satisfied the human need for companionship, unconditional love, and affection. In today’s society, we need our canine friends more than ever to keep us physically and mentally healthy, help us be more sociable, and teach our children valuable life lessons. Dogs are one of the best family pets to choose especially in our busy society. There are so many benefits of owning a dog, that we would like to share some of them with you here. Dogs provide companionship We know dogs as “man’s best friend”. When we come home, they’re excited to see us, and 99% of us talk to them like they are a member of the family. During the pandemic, many singles acquired a dog to provide companionship as they suddenly spent all day working from home, rarely having a reason to leave the house, and often suffering mentally from the lack of human interaction. Equally, families found that COVID was the perfect time to introduce a pet to their kids, bringing the family closer together and providing endless hours of entertainment and distraction for both parents and children. But even in normal times, our relationship with our pooch can sometimes be more consistent and reliable than our relationship with other humans. We include dogs in our daily routine and in many leisure activities, from walks around the neighbourhood or the local park, to hiking and camping. Dogs can become enmeshed in many aspects of our lives. Many of us even choose dog-friendly holidays to make sure we can take our furry friends along. Dogs help us increase our level of physical activity and provide other health benefits. As our canine companions need to be walked regularly, we are forced to go out in the fresh air, even when it is raining or blowing a gale. Dog owners also choose leisure activities that includes their furry friend, such as long hikes through the countryside.

2. Personally, I know that I would be far less likely to go on a walk or hike if it wasn’t for our family dog. She knows which shoes and trousers are for walking and hiking and goes insane for me to put her harness on when she knows we’re going out. Having that excitement is part of what gets me out the door in the first place. A Liverpool study into the benefits of owning a dog, specifically the association between dog ownership and physical activity levels, concluded that dog owners are more likely to meet physical activity guidelines than people who don’t own a hound. They walk around 200 minutes more per week than people who don’t have dogs. Whether we’re walking, running, hiking, or just throwing a ball in the back garden, having a dog means we are more active in our daily lives. READ MORE Single Parents on Holiday Ltd 3 Hayes Court 116 West Common Road Bromley Kent UK BR2 7EG 0333 370 3701 info@singleparentsonholiday.co.uk https://singleparentsonholiday.co.uk