social and psychological benefits of owning a dog.?

Answer 1

The benefits of owning a dog seem to extend significantly beyond the pleasure of such a relationship. Various studies have identified many health and mental health benefits as well. It has also been found that different breeds provide different benefits, most likely due to the different natures of different breeds of dogs.

Here are some of the ways dogs can benefit your life.

Heart attack survival. Pet ownership has been found to be the second best predictor of survival following a heart attack. The best predictor, not surprisingly, was the amount of damage to the heart, but pet ownership was found more important than all the other physical, social and economic variables.
Lower blood pressure. Dog owners have been shown to have lower systolic blood pressure than non-owners. Petting the dog lowers blood pressure almost immediately.
Lower divorce rate. Couples who own dogs report closer relationships, more satisfaction in their marriages and respond better to stress.
Counter depression. The company and fun provided by dogs lessens feelings of sadness and depression.
Lower cholesterol and triglycerides. Dog owners have lower levels of both low- density lipoproteins and triglycerides, both of which are associated with increased chance of developing heart disease.
Make friends. Research has supported the idea that having a dog increases the likelihood you will make friends.
Different breeds are better for different situations. Golden and Labrador retrievers are better at helping with insomnia than are terriers. English springer spaniels and labrador retrievers increase a person's activity level and thus help with weight loss, but quiet dogs such as the Saint Bernard and bulldog are not as helpful. If you are highly stressed, you might want to avoid getting a puppy of any breed since training a new puppy is stressful in itself. To relieve depression and loneliness papillons, Pekingese and cocker spaniels are best because of their high degree of sociability.

Of course, none of this comes as a surprise to those of us who share our lives with dogs. We've always known just how important our companions are!



P.S. My cats have informed me that the above comments about dogs may constitute discrimination against members of the feline persuasion. Therefore, I must add: cats are also a wonderful source of companionship and the above comments in no way should be construed as implying that cats do not make good companion animals. They certainly do!

Answer 2

Socially it would be that I have someone to talk to,fetch a stick for & cook for.
Psychologically it would when I talk to myself I can say i was talking to my dog & it was him that answered me.

Answer 3

I totally agree with heatherlynnm well put.