Owning a dog is good for you!

We all know how lovely a pet dog can be. The company, the amusement and the security that come from owning a dog does not go unseen by loving keepers.

What you may not realise is that owning a dog can actually have health benefits that go beyond the good feelings you get from their love. This article lists a whole range of physical as well as emotional advantages of pet ownership.

We all know that having a dog encourages you to get outside and be active. I rarely went to parks before having a dog, now I go daily and charge around after my pooch just to make sure she runs off her energy!

Dogs can also lower heart rate and reduce stress levels (well behaved ones that is!). It’s very therapeutic to stroke a pet and the companionship can be very rewarding and relaxing, as it is often less demanding than most other friends or partners!

And I almost forgot the most important benefit is that dog ownership makes you more tolerant – and not just of other dogs. It helps you to appreciate how difficult it is to control something that is in your care, and as a result you (hopefully) become more understanding of others in the same boat!