The healing power of dogs: why they’re more than just pets

The ways people refer to their dogs, like ‘man’s best friend’, ‘part of the family’, or ‘our furbaby’, are numerous. We all know how wonderful and fulfilling it is to have a pet dog, but some still hesitate to take the step. Others fear the responsibility and commitment involved, and some do not fully realize the blessing of having a furry companion.

And while it’s important to recognize the commitment and responsibility involved—since caring for a living being entirely dependent on you isn’t a small feat—the positive side is that you’ll likely fall in love with your dog and develop a relationship you’d never have expected.

A dog’s love never wavers

You will quickly learn why dogs are praised for their loyal, steadfast, and dependable natures. The fantastic thing about dogs is that they might need some time to learn and adapt to the house rules. But they will love you immediately, and no joy will be bigger for them than being in your company. Can you say that about many of the people in your life?

While their love is unconditional, you must work to create the best living environment for such a fantastic friend. Consistency, routine, and a predictable daily or weekly schedule will be highly appreciated. Dogs thrive in such instances. It will help them settle in sooner and be more aware of their role within the family.

As convinced as we are that your bond will be strong and healing, we have prepared answers to some of your questions about how to get along with your dog. You will soon know why getting a dog is seen as one of the best things you can do for your mental health.

1. Prepare to experience what it feels like to be the main character

Unlike friends or family who have their own agendas and lives to plan around, your four-legged friend cannot wait for the two of you to spend time together. Whether going for a walk, tagging along with you while you run errands, or cuddling in front of a TV for a comfortable night in. Whatever you choose, he is glad to be in your company. That kind of enthusiasm is rare among other people.

Main advantage: Those who find it hard to maintain low-effort relationships with friends and family finally get to feel like the main character and the top choice for someone. You might believe a dog can’t provide what a human can, but you’ll soon realize that the sincerity of their feelings surpasses the species difference.

2. The steadiest relationship you will ever be in

Once your dog learns your schedule and becomes part of your daily routine, you are set. You won’t have to constantly remind your dog about your hours, when you can or cannot do something, because your schedule will also be his. And he will know it and be there for every walk, every trip, every night in.

Main advantage: For those who need extra incentives to adhere to a schedule or cannot stay organized because they lack motivation, making sure their best friend is well-fed, well-taken care of, and happy in their home can be a compelling argument.

3. True connection (if you even know what that looks like anymore)

Do you know how, when you go to meet a friend at a restaurant or at their place, the phones come out and everybody periodically flips through messages, news, updates, notifications, likes, followed pages, reels, etc.? Do you feel like the time you are having with them is real? Is it truly used to form a connection? Most likely it is not.

With a dog, you will discover what a relationship is like when it does not revolve around the strength of the Wi-Fi.

Main argument: People have forgotten how to have genuine relationships with each other. Even if a few still know to put their phones away, they cannot connect with those who cannot, leaving them feeling stranded. A dog will more than savor the connection.

And if you are among the ones whose phone is glued to their palm, maybe this will be the much-needed incentive to change something about it.

4. You’ll never skip leg day

By leg day, we mean every possible occasion to go out for a walk. Studies show that people who get dogs and take them out on walks, even if they have a yard and lots of space to run around at home, get, on average, 200 – 300 more minutes of outdoor exercise per week than people who don’t.

This would be a great place to start for anyone looking for ways to move their bodies more. What is more, your dog will always need this exercise, so this will be a light workout you can no longer wiggle out of because of the weather, your mood, or the current state of the world.

Main advantage: If your dog’s physical well-being is essential to you, your own will also become a priority. It is a wonderful place to start for anyone with workout anxiety.

5. Learn to socialize

Dogs are social animals and must be socialized with other dogs and people. Except for traumatized dogs that need their time and space, most dogs will benefit from playing with others at the dog park. That is, unless you plan on getting zoomies with him, racing him to the stick, and chasing him in circles around the park.

The great news is that dogs are really quick to make friends. Some might be picky, but trust their instincts because they tell them exactly which dog is safe to play with and which is not. So please don’t push your dog into accepting to play with an animal they fear could hurt them.

Main advantage: While the dogs are playing, you can introduce yourself to the other dog owners in the park. Look at how easy it is for your dog to make friends, so take a page from his book and trust that most people are open to striking up an interesting conversation while waiting for their dogs to burn some of their energy.
After all, you are all dog owners, so you have that in common, and it is an endless subject for discussion.

6. The best partner for your mental health walks

These have started gaining more ground because walking while you think things over is known to help calm the nerves. Some people remain in their heads at the time, and others express their thoughts out loud, but they could all use some company, like a grounding reminder that they are not alone.

Unlike someone who might be tiresome and ask many questions, a dog will just be there. He can leave you to your thoughts or look at you every time you say something, but he will mainly be there, by your side, as you walk through your emotions.

Main advantage: A dog can hold up a mirror to your emotions. And the more you get attached to him and notice how your mood affects your friend, the more you learn to control yourself and mind your reactions.

Apart from children, no one else is so dependent on you to absorb your feelings the same way. But unlike children who might get overwhelmed, dogs have the capacity to help you overcome your challenging moments.

7. Become their everything and redefine your notion of self-worth

You cannot have low self-esteem when you love your dog and your dog loves you back. How could you? When you see all the trust and appreciation in his eyes? When you see how eager he is to greet you and how sad he is when you leave? How can you have low self-esteem when the creature you adore sees you in such a way?

Main advantage: Dogs help people struggling to find their purpose by motivating them. Nothing is a better reason to get up and get things done every morning than knowing that your best friend depends on you for everything, from basic things like keeping him alive, fed, and sheltered to things like feeling loved and cared for.

These are just seven of the main advantages of having a dog. But we are sure that once you take that big step, you can fill the list with your own discovered advantages.