Dogs can have quite a bit of energy, sometimes more than we are prepared for as their owners and caregivers! They are, after all, a naturally rambunctious, curious, playful species, one that has grown up and developed alongside us and come to anticipate our own desires and interests as far as they are concerned. This makes dogs great companions for children, as only children can seem to keep up with a young puppy’s irresistible zest for life! For older populations, it can seem as though a dog is too much responsibility and far too great a demand on their energy, but that simply isn’t the case; in fact, a well-trained dog that is appropriately for the aged and elderly can be of great benefit to that population both physically and mentally!

Physical Well Being

Pets, as we know, have a way of helping us to simply feel better. They make us happier, healthier, and more relaxed, and our bodies respond to those feelings – strangely enough – by actually improving our healing, health, and recovery rate. For example, it was found that among patients with serious heart conditions, pet-owners had a much higher survival rate. In that particular study, of the patients surveyed, non-pet-owners experienced a 28% death rate, whereas pet owners experienced less than 6% death rate.

Perhaps that is simply because petting a dog simply makes you feel better! Petting a dog’s soft fur can markedly reduce your blood pressure, which is critical to a long and healthy life. The lowered blood pressure also signifies increased relaxation and happiness, something critical to your own quality of life!

The Body Cannot Live Without the Mind

It isn’t just your body that will benefit from a dog, however; the elderly also benefit mentally from owning and caring for a dog. Studies have shown that Alzheimer’s patients typically have fewer anxious outbursts so long as there is an animal in the home. That, of course, is something of a physical benefit – it is so hard to separate the physical from the mental! – but there are other mental benefits to owning a pet.

The work of caring for a pet, for example, means forming a close, intimate bond with your dog. These bonds are often quite intimate and border on the love between two good human friends. These bonds, in turn, lead to the production of hormones and neural connections that increase wellbeing and happiness. In other words, when you have a good, loyal, reliable friend in a dog, you have a connection that is worthwhile and that means something to you. For the elderly, who sometimes can feel isolated or alone, a pet can give them the intimacy and connection that they want and need. A dog can truly be your best friend.