The Effects Of Pets On The Health And Physical Activity Levels Of Their Owners

The research question states ‘To what extent is owning a dog beneficial for a person’s physical and psychological health?’ The investigation is aimed to determine the extent of the benefits of owning a dog for a person’s physical and psychological health. The main focus will be on exercising, developing one’s responsibility and companionship. The findings from this research target on people those involved or interested in owning a dog, such as dog owners, animal lovers, children and the elderly. The investigation will address three key benefits of owning a dog in terms of maintaining one’s physical and psychological health, which include exercise, taking responsibility and companionship.

Over the past twenty years North Americans have witnessed the largest boom in population in the area of seniors. For the purpose of this assignment I will define a senior as anyone over the age of sixty. The increased number of seniors in conjunction with a longer life span has raised questions about these individuals quality of life both emotionally, mentally and physically. The purpose of this study is to look at whether or not dog ownership leads individuals to be more physically active.

Pets provide a sense of comfort and purpose in their owner’s life (Bennett). Humans have the basic need to touch, thus, when a person strokes an animal, blood pressure lowers and leaves that person feeling more calmed and less stressed (Robinson and Segal), though researchers believe that cats have a more calming effect on people than other animals do (WebMD). Giving a child a pet is very effective in helping them develop basic motor and social skills, a sense of responsibility, compassion, empathy, stimulate imagination, creativity, curiosity, and even make them feel better about themselves. Furthermore, both children and adults alike become more active when having a pet for a companion (Robinson and Segal). “Horseback riding gives stretching exercise, and helps at regaining balance and building core strength” (WebMD). While multiple studies have shown that walking one’s dog, grooming, and even petting boosts fitness, also counting as weight-loss, strengthens the heart, muscles, immune system, and bones, while improving blood circulation, boosting energy, and slowing the loss of bone tissue (WebMD; Robinson and Segal; Humane Society of the United States) “People who have pets tend to have better levels of cholesterol, cortisol, and triglyceride” (WebMD), moreover, “playing with a dog or cat can elevate levels serotonin and dopamine, which calm and relax” (Robinson and Segal). “In 2001, a study

Having a dog can help with cardiovascular risk. The American Heart Association has said that having a dog decreases the risk of cardiovascular illness. Having a dog has been proven to raise the levels of oxytocin in your blood. Oxytocin is the hormone that makes us feel happy and

Owning a pet does extradonry wonders to your health. One reason I believe this is that dogs can now detect diffrent types of cancer in human bodies.Dogs are able to figure out where the cancer is in less than three hours. Another reason why owning a pet boost your health is that they lower the chance for diseases such as heart disease and cardiovascular disease. They also lower chances of high blood pressure. Also people that suffer from a heart attack and own a dog are twice as likely to fully

“A Healthy Dose of Puppy Love” by Kathryn Satterfield describes a new study that shows that dogs can improve an individual’s health by lowering anxiety levels and by improving cardiac function. Specially trained therapy dogs visited a hospital in November in Dallas, Texas to help conduct a study that animals can improve an individual’s health, to do this people split the seventy six patients into a total of three groups: visitors with dogs, visitors, and an “at rest group.” For accurate results researches preformed anxiety tests on the patients before, during, and after the visit, and the results concluded that patients who received visits from people had encountered a ten percent drop in anxiety, while patients who received visits from dogs

Many men, women, families, and roommates have some kind of dog as a pet, but what else can dogs be rather than just a companion? Studies show that when owning a dog it reduces stress. Yes stress! Not only does owning a dog reduce stress but it can prevent heart disease and high blood pressure. It’s healthier for everyone to have a dog because having someone to be there for people gives comfort, prevents sadness or depression and loneliness. Even though dogs can just be pets, they can also have important jobs like guide dogs, search and rescue dogs, and war dogs.

Scientists have shown that pet ownership can have demonstrably positive effects on human health. "A 10-month prospective study was carried out which examined changes in behaviour and health status in 71 adult subjects following the acquisition of a new pet (either dogs or cats). A group of 26 subjects without pets served as a comparison over the same period. Both pet-owning groups reported a highly significant reduction in minor health problems during the first month following pet acquisition, and this effect was sustained in dog owners through to 10 months" (Serpell 1991). Dog owners in particular benefited from

We all know that owning pets make us happy. But research is suggesting that pets can also make us healthy, or healthier. That explain the increasing use of animal therapy, dogs and cats mostly, but people also use birds, fish and even horses, they are being used in hospitals, nursing homes to schools, jails and mental institutions. They are being use for

People are healthier when they own pets.In the autobiography ''My Story'' froom Animals in Translation by Temple Gradin and Catherine Johnson ''Temple said she spent every spare moment working the barns.'' It's makes Temple healtheir by it's exersirse for her you know all the things you are doing are burning calories.

Not only are pets therapeutic for humans but they also can be beneficial to the physical well-being of a person. Having a pet can mean staying active and thus being physically healthier. While many pets require walking, playing or simply require more physical work like cleaning, bathing etc. it pushes people to be more active on a daily basis which is healthier than sitting on a couch watching television. Having a pet can also add structure or a daily routine to a person’s life. For example “Dogs require a regular feeding and exercise schedule. Having a consistent routine keeps a dog balanced and calm—and it can work for you, too. No matter your mood—depressed, anxious, or stressed—one plaintive look from your dog and you’ll have to get out

Having a bond with an animal is one of the best things you could ever experience in this world. Pets have been proven to improve your mood and health in many unnoticed ways. Pets help with loneliness, they help with reducing stress and anxiety, and they can also help increase your exercise. Having a pet provides you with a companion for life that will show you unconditional love and affection, if you will show it back. Owning and caring for a pet may even help you live longer. But where do these pets come from?

They walked an average of 300 minutes per week, compared with non-dog owners, who walked an average of 168 minutes per week, which in all could help you lose weight and make you healthy for a longer life. People who have strong connections to their pets also have social and relationship benefits. The researchers surveyed 500 18- to 26-year-olds and found that those who had “strong attachment to pets reported feeling more connected to their communities and relationships.” They also found that the more attached a person was to an animal as a teenager and young adult, the more empathetic and confident he or she was. Loneliness is common among the elderly. Studies have shown that in people 60 years of age and older, owning a dog were four times less likely to be diagnosed as clinically depressed. They are always happy to see you. Dogs get so excited when we come home and it always puts a smile on peoples faces. Dogs like to snuggle up to you and keep you warm when it’s chilly, especially when they're fluffy and soft. Kids learn about taking care of someone other than themselves like feeding the dog and taking them outside it really teaches kids how at a young age that they are responsible for their own things. Dog owners have a much higher rate of recovery from being sick than non-dog

First, owning a pet can give people some major health benefits. Without a pet, a day at work or school can be stressful. By the end of the day, people could be ripping out their hair or throwing papers everywhere. This can make anyone’s heart rate go up as well as their blood pressure. Thankfully, studies have shown that interacting with a dog or other pet can lower his or her’s cortisol levels. For instance, after only three months, a group of people working with dogs were shown to have significant drops in blood pressure and stress. Pet’s happy go lucky vibes can impact their owners to feel the same, lowering his or her’s stress level. Even when someone sees a picture of their pet when they're stressed, it can immediately cause his or her’s heart

A recent study at UCLA found that 37% of Medicare patients who owned pets visited their doctor less frequently and seemed to tolerate stressful events better (Whitaker). These are only the physical benefits.