Northstar Counseling Center

502-414-1301
  • Home
  • Our Blog
  • Contact
  • Our Staff
    • Carol Ann Hamilton Isbell
    • Amanda Driggs
    • Allison Hock Howell
    • Amanda Villaveces
    • Cynthia Rigdon
    • Kayti Michel
    • Nikki Heekin
    • Haley Klein
    • Coralie McEachron
    • Megan Henderson
  • Services
    • Family Therapy
    • Couples Therapy
      • ​Couples Workshops
        • Hold Me Tight®
        • Bringing Baby Home
    • Individual Therapy
    • ​Premarital Counseling
    • Children & Teens Counseling
    • Health Coaching
    • Relationship Solutions Clinic
  • Supervision & Training
    • Continuing Education for Therapists
    • Community Trainings
    • Licensure Supervision
    • Lunch & Learn
    • Improv for Anxiety
  • Resources
  • FAQ
  • Join Our Team!
  • Forms
You are here: Home / Anxiety / 5 Reasons Why Owning a Dog Actually Improves Your (and your kid’s!) Health

5 Reasons Why Owning a Dog Actually Improves Your (and your kid’s!) Health

March 20, 2017 by Carol Ann Isbell, LMFT, LCSW

If those lovable little faces and cuddles on the couch weren’t enough to sell you on owning a dog, it’s time to reconsider a trip to the Humane Society.  “Woof woof” never sounded so good because it turns out that our little (or big) wet nosed friends can actually improve our health.  Here are 5 reasons why you should consider making Fido part of the family:

  1. Heart Health: Studies show that dog owners actually have better heart health. Ownership is linked to lower blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, all three of which are connected to better cardiovascular health. And dog owners that do suffer heart attacks have even have faster recovery times and outcomes than non-dog owners.
  2. Exercise: Walking a dog, playing fetch, etc are ways that dogs can make working out fun. Most of the time we don’t even think of these activities as “exercise.” Who doesn’t love exercise that doesn’t feel like exercise?
  3. Increased Social Connections: If you own a dog, you probably already know this. It’s very common for dog owners to strike up conversations with other dog owners and even dogless strangers. If someone asks us about our special companion, we’re typically eager to gush about our four-legged friend.
  4. Reduced Stress and Depression: There’s a good reason why dogs are called man’s best friend. Even just a few minutes with a dog can lower anxiety and reduce blood pressure levels.  In fact, spending time with a dog can increase levels of serotonin and dopamine, two neurochemicals that impact one’s ability to feel calm and experience happiness.  Additionally, dog ownership reduces loneliness and provides meaning and purpose for the owner.
  5. Reduction of Child Allergies: According to a 2004 study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, having a dog (or cat) in the home actually lowers a child’s chance of becoming allergic to pets by up to 33 percent and in general helps strengthen their tiny immune systems.

Share this:

  • Tweet
  • Email

Related

Filed Under: Anxiety, Depression, Family, Happiness, Health & Wellness, Parenting, Self Improvement

Author Profile


Carol Ann Hamilton Isbell
LMFT, LCSW
A Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and one of the founders of Northstar Counseling Center who specializes in:

Couples Therapy, Anxiety, Depression
Read Profile

Blog Categories

  • adolescents
  • Anxiety
  • Children
  • Communication
  • communication
  • counseling
  • Couples
  • couples workshop
  • Depression
  • education
  • Family
  • Happiness
  • Health & Wellness
  • language
  • mental health
  • mindfulness
  • Nutrition
  • Parenting
  • Perfectionism
  • Pregnancy
  • Relationships
  • Self Improvement
  • sex education
  • teens
  • therapy
  • tweens
  • Uncategorized

Blog Posts by Staff

  • Allison Hock Howell
  • Amanda Driggs
  • Amanda Villaveces
  • Carol Ann Isbell
  • Coralie McEachron
  • Cynthia Rigdon
  • Haley Klein
  • Kary Stivers
  • Kayti Michel
  • Lauren McGrath
  • Nikki Heekin
  • Northstar Guest Author
  • Rachel Heyne

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Twitter

Recent Posts

  • Why you should take a workshop in 2020. November 25, 2019
  • 5 Mindful Eating Tips This Holiday Season November 18, 2019
  • The Value in Difficult Conversations November 11, 2019

120 Sears Ave
Suite 205
Louisville, KY 40207
(502) 414-1301

Sitemap

  • Home
  • Our Blog
  • Counseling Staff
  • Supervision & Training
  • Counseling Resources
  • FAQ
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2019 · Beautiful Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.