Social Health

Dogs provide us with several health benefits, one of these being our social health. Whether you own the dog, dog-sit, or foster, you are responsible for taking it on a walk. Even if you don’t feel like getting up, you have to, or else the dog may have an accident. Depending on the age and breed, dogs also have lots of energy to use throughout the day. Walking a dog incentivizes social interactions and decreases loneliness.

Decreased Loneliness

“Dogs Supporting Human Health and Well-Being: A Biopsychological Approach,” claims, “acquiring a pet dog has been reported to reduce both short-term and long-term self-reported loneliness” (Frontiers). For example, you could be in long-term care facilities or live alone. For isolated seniors, a dog may also decrease loneliness by providing a source of meaningful companionship and social connectedness. Thinking back to the COVID-19 pandemic, everyone experienced social isolation and a lack of connectedness. What if Canine Connections was around back in 2020, how many of us could have benefitted from the presence of having a canine companion?

Increased Social Interactions

Dog walking can also lead to increased social interactions. The same Frontier article found that “being accompanied by a dog in public increases the frequency of received social interactions and social acknowledgments.” When walking a dog, and passing by another person walking one too, you are bound to either stop and let the dogs interact or spark a conversation about the two dogs. I understand stopping to socialize, may not always be the case or work for everyone’s situation. But social acknowledgments happen around us daily. Maybe that person you pass by doesn’t want to talk but they share a friendly glance or smile your direction.

There have also been positive child-pet-dog interactions that have been shown to benefit children’s social behavior. Children can form relationships with dogs, while dogs can promote a safety net of security, improving children’s social development. Another study discussed in the article found that children with a pet dog in the home have fewer peer problems and more prosocial behavior than children without a dog (Frontier). I  grew up with two dogs in my home. I never thought about the effect animals may have on us when they are around us at a young age. I guess I can thank my dogs for my extroverted social self!

ADHD

Social interactions through dog walking improve ADHD symptoms in children. Research shows, “that 12 weeks of visits with a therapy dog, incorporated into curricula designed to improve skills and reduce behavioral problems, can result in improved social skills, prosocial behaviors, and perceptions of social competence” (Frontier). The more you are in an environment that promotes social interactions, the better you can improve your social skills. Children, for example, view dogs’ nonverbal communication as less threatening and easier to interpret than human interaction. Animals relieve our stress levels so we become more comfortable when they are present. This opens the door to social interactions for those who have a dog or other animal with them.

Increased socialization reduces isolation, the risk of heart attacks, and cognitive issues. Isolation is a strong risk factor for worse health outcomes and premature death. To sum up, dog owners interact more with other people, such as other dog owners and people they encounter on walks. Because of this, they are less likely to experience these social barriers. If you are now curious about the mental and physical health benefits, stay tuned for the next few weeks!

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