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We’ve all heard the old adage that people who own dogs live longer than those who don’t, but is this true? As it turns out, researchers have spent a lot of time studying the effects of dog ownership on mental and physical well-being.
What they’ve discovered is that, indeed, living with a dog can have a profoundly positive effect on your overall health and happiness. So much so, in fact, that people who own dogs do tend to live longer on average than those who don’t.
Below, we’ll look at 12 scientifically proven ways dog companionship can improve your health, mood, and longevity.
12 Dog Ownership Health Benefits
1. Increased Physical Activity
We all know how much it takes to wear out a hyper puppy or active dog. We’re talking about walks around the block, long hikes, trips to the park, and more. So, it should come as no surprise that dog owners are far more likely to meet physical activity guidelines than non-dog owners.
One UK study found that dog owners were four times more likely to meet the nation’s physical activity recommendation of 150 minutes of activity per week compared to non-dog owners. And this benefit wasn’t just limited to adult owners either. The study found that children in houses with dogs were also more likely to have higher levels of activity and walking time than kids without dogs.
Other studies have proved that this relationship between activity and dog ownership extends through many demographics, including older women and seniors. In fact, one study looking at people 65 and older found that owning a dog increased physical activity even among groups with health problems that would typically cause a significant decrease in activity.
Regular physical activity can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes in humans. While achieving activity recommendations can be challenging, studies show us that dogs are the perfect motivational tool to get people out and moving.
2. Reduced Stress and Anxiety
Researchers have also spent a lot of time studying how dogs affect our emotional well-being. In terms of stress and anxiety, it seems dogs are very good at helping us stay calm.
One study that paired up dog-owning adults with equivalent non-dog owners, found that those with a dog reported being less stressed overall. This and other studies have also found a positive relationship between mental health, the ability to cope with stress, and a lower incidence of psychosomatic symptoms.
One likely explanation for this has to do with the fact that petting a dog is proven to release oxytocin in humans (as well as in the dog!). This “love hormone” promotes feelings of well-being and connection and helps to reduce cortisol levels.
Researchers have found that the ability of dogs to reduce stress is heightened for individuals who tend to humanize their dogs. This is true even among people who self-report feeling isolated.
So go ahead and talk to your pooch while giving them a good snuggle. Odds are, you’ll both feel a lot better afterward.
3. Lower Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
We keep our dogs close to our hearts. As it turns out, they repay that love by helping to keep our hearts healthier.
Multiple studies have found that dog ownership is associated with lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides. These factors, combined with increased activity and lower stress levels in dog owners, all contribute to the fact that doggy-lovers have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease compared to non-dog owners.
The one exception to this is dog owners who smoke. Not only does smoking override all the positive vibes your pup puts out, but it also puts your dog’s health at risk. So, if you’re struggling to give up the habit for your own health, do it for Fido.
4. Improved Heart Health After a Heart Attack
For those who have already suffered from a heart attack, it’s not too late to reap the benefits of dog ownership.
One study found that people who had a heart attack and owned a dog in the years following their recovery had a 21% decrease in all-cause mortality compared to survivors who did not have a dog. The odds of repeat heart attacks in dog owners are also lower than in those who do not have dogs. These effects were even more significant in people who owned larger, active breeds of dogs.
Similarly, dog owners who survived a stroke were found to have a lower risk of death during the follow-up period.
These effects are likely partly due to the other benefits of dog ownership we’ve discussed, including higher physical activity, greater emotional support, and reduced stress.
5. Enhanced Mood and Reduced Depression
We already know that interacting with dogs boosts oxytocin levels in people, but this isn’t the only neurotransmitter dogs affect.
Research has proven that petting and interacting with pooches causes the brain to release dopamine and serotonin. These neurotransmitters are associated with feelings of well-being and happiness. People with higher levels of these chemicals in their brains are less likely to suffer from depression.
During the pandemic, researchers found that people who owned a dog reported lower levels of depression and higher levels of social support. Interestingly, while studies show that having a dog reduces the incidence of depression, getting a dog after being diagnosed with depression does not ease symptoms.
So do yourself a favor and get that new puppy today so you can get those happy hormones flowing before it’s too late.
6. Improved Social Connections
If you’ve ever seen an adorable puppy in a crowded place, you already know how well dogs work as social lubricants. So, it’s no surprise that dog ownership is associated with stronger social connections and lower incidence of feelings of isolation.
Dogs do a wonderful job of acting as social catalysts at parks, on walking trails, and in many other places. They help facilitate introductions to increase the odds of social bonding. Not surprisingly, researchers studying “social Capital” have found that dog owners score higher on civic engagement scales than people who don’t own dogs.
People with strong social connections tend to have improved mental health, reduced feelings of loneliness, and longer life expectancy.
7. Companionship and Emotional Support
Of course, as a dog owner, you don’t have to leave the house to feel strong connections. Our dogs, often even more so than other people, provide consistent companionship, leading to reduced feelings of isolation and loneliness.
This is true of people across all demographics but is especially apparent in older single adults who are more likely to be socially isolated. In this group, dog ownership is associated with higher functional ability, fewer chronic illnesses, and higher levels of subjective success among individuals who lack human support.
8. Enhanced Immune System Function
Exposure to dogs has been shown to boost immune function, especially in children, by exposing the body to various microbes that help build immunity.
Interestingly, there is a notable difference in immune system function markers, such as wheezing and atopic dermatitis, in children who have been exposed to dogs since birth compared to those exposed only after a few months of age. Children born and raised around dogs are much less likely to suffer from asthma and skin allergies than those with later and less frequent exposure to dogs.
For a long time, it was assumed early exposure to dog dander and other substances was responsible for these positive immune shifts in children. However, more recent research seems to indicate that the immune-modulating effects of dog ownership may have more to do with changes to the microbiomes of both the mother and the fetus.
Researchers have found significant differences in the biome makeup of dog-owning mothers versus non-dog owners. These changes are associated with a reduction in preterm labor as well as lower incidence of diabetes, allergies, cancer, depression, cardiovascular disease, and gastrointestinal illness in the child.
9. Lower Risk of Allergies in Children
A higher functioning immune system doesn’t just protect us from viruses and bacteria. It also leads to a lower incidence of immune over reactivity. This is one reason why dog ownership is associated with lower rates of allergies and asthma in children.
One study found that infants living with at least one dog were 90% less likely to develop food allergies than those raised in a house without dogs. Interestingly, this protective effect was exaggerated in houses with two or more dogs.
In terms of respiratory allergies, dogs seem to have an equally protective effect, with dog-owning children developing pollen and other common respiratory allergies less frequently than non-dog-owning kids. Interestingly, this association is only seen in children who live with dogs and not in those who have frequent dog exposure outside of the house.
10. Motivation to Create Healthy Routines
If you already have a dog, then you know these four-legged family members thrive with a consistent routine. They need regular feeding, consistent exercise, and grooming on a predictable schedule.
But these routines aren’t just good for the dog. Science tells us that people also thrive when they have routine and structure in their lives.
Humans with consistent routines report a higher sense of purpose and reduced feelings of stress than those who fail to create routines. Not surprisingly, humans who own dogs tend to have more consistent routines that include healthy habits such as daily walks and stress-reducing playtime and cuddle sessions.
11. Reduced Perception of Pain
Therapy dogs have long been used in hospitals to help improve mood and emotional health in patients. But the effects these dogs have go far deeper than this.
Multiple studies in children and adults have proven that both therapy and owned dogs can have a significant effect on perceived pain. In one study, adults performing a cold-pressor task reported less pain when accompanied by their dog versus by a friend. The perceived reduction of pain likely has something to do with the mixed effects of distraction and the release of calming neurotransmitters dogs elicit.
Interestingly, though, this phenomenon may go deeper than what we think we feel. One study looking at therapy dog intervention in emergency rooms found that therapy dogs significantly reduced blood markers for pain, anxiety, and depression in patients who got to interact with them compared to those who didn’t.
Many studies into chronic illness have found similar effects in patients who own dogs versus those who do not.
12. Improved Cognitive Function
Interaction with dogs has been shown to help older adults maintain cognitive function, particularly in cases of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
In one study, Alzheimer patients that got to interact with a therapy dog, consistently scored better on cognitive tests compared to those who did not get to interact with the dog. Interestingly, the improvement in cognitive function only continued if the dog interaction was a consistent factor in the patient’s life.
Another study in a senior community living center found that seniors who own dogs maintain greater cognitive function compared to those who do not own dogs. This effect is also influenced by how long the person has been a dog owner. A study of adults found that those who own dogs have, on average, better cognitive testing scores, larger brain structures, and reduced brain age of up to 15 years.
Not only do people with greater cognitive aptitude enjoy a higher quality of life into old age, but they also tend to live much longer than those suffering from cognitive decline.
It’s Time To Get a Dog
If science has taught us anything, it’s that getting a dog is very, very good for your health. Not only does dog ownership lead to a reduction in many life-limiting factors, but it also reduces depression, anxiety, and feelings of isolation.
And the beneficial effects of dog companionship are seen in every age group, from newborns to seniors.
So, if you don’t own a dog, what are you waiting for?
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Sara Seitz worked in the pet industry for over a decade. In addition to being a certified dog trainer, Sara gained experience working as the general manager of a dog daycare and boarding facility, as the creator and manager of a pet sitting company, as a groomer, and as a dog behavior evaluator. She also has a bachelors in animal behavior from CSU. Currently, Sara works as a freelance writer specializing in blog, article and content writing.
