It’s probably no secret around here that I think Lucy hangs the moon. She’s our 4-legged child and very much a member of our family. So when I read this article on CNN about how dog owners live longer and how pets are the best medicine I was not one bit surprised. According to a recent study, dog ownership is associated with a reduced risk for cardiovascular disease and death, in addition to being awesome companions and great little comforting sidekicks. I totally believe that to be true!
Owning a dog can decrease risk of death by 33% and risk of cardiovascular related death by 36%. Plus, chances of a heart attack were also found to be 11% lower. There are a number of reasons they identified but a major one is that dog owners are forced to be more active because their pets need to be walked. Basically that little companion gets you up and moving.
“The findings also suggest increased social well-being and immune system development as additional reasons why dog ownership offers protection against cardiovascular disease and death. One factor behind this may be because dogs bring dirt into homes and they lick you, which could impact your microbiome — the bacteria that live in your gut — and thus your health.”
While the “bringing dirt in to homes” thing makes me cringe, the living longer because of Lucy thing makes my heart happy!
What do you think? Do you agree with this study? Do you think your fur babies will help you live longer and be healthier?
~ Mavis
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Tracy says
My elderly disabled dad has a bearded dragon. It keeps him on a schedule he might not keep otherwise. He wakes up to get her up and then takes his own meds. He eats an apple and feeds her a bit. She hangs out on him most of the day but can stay in her house if needed.
My husband and I have a lab sleeping between us at the moment.
Linda says
I have three dogs Mavis, two German Shepherds and a beagle. I call the shepherds by fitness coaches because they want long walks daily. I don’t walk them on a daily bases, but we walk several days a week and we walk two to three miles at a time. I can’t imagine my life without the company of dogs (a dog).
They are loyal beyond imagination, always glad to see me and if that isn’t enough, they make me feel very secure.
Brianna says
No pets here. I always told my hubby that I can only handle one poop pile at a time. Our youngest is potty trained now, so the hubby is pushing for a dog. I really don’t want one because I know I will be the one taking care of it. My two boys are both afraid of dogs because they were both bitten by a Great Danelast October. My boys weren’t doing anything to provoke the dog other than walking between the dog and their sister when it attacked them. I have a hard time trusting any dog around my kids. I get very annoyed with those who feel their dogs need to be in public places….farmers market, Lowe’s, etc….especially when those dogs attack my children or have bad manners. The Great Dane was euthanized, my boys have scars on their face and torso, I had to pull the dog off my boys while the owner stood in shock and couldn’t get control of the dog, and the owner was surprised and unwillingly had to let the dog go. I use to love dogs and even worked in a vet clinic for awhile, but now I don’t even have a desire to get one. I will take a shorter lifespan without a dog then watch my children get mauled again.
Anita says
Wow Brianna! That’s so sad what happened to your boys. I don’t blame you for not wanting a dog. My youngest son was also bitten by a dog, a Labrador retriever of all things! We have no idea what made the dog do it as my son was just walking by, minding his own business. Fortunately my BIL was close by and picked him up and out of reach of the dog, but he still ended up with a scar on his arm and lots and lots of tears that day. I was mad as hell about it, but it could’ve been a lot worse had my BIL not been there to get him. Luckily my son didn’t become afraid of dogs because of the incident, but that may be because we’ve always had a dog since the day he was born and he was used to them. Who knows? Still I can completely understand why yours would be afraid. Take care.
TJD says
I have a little(15 pounds!) rat terrier named Dotty. I can feel my breathing slow and relax as I pet her pointy little head. She wants to be where I am, at my feet when sewing, we garden together, she sleeps at the foot of my bed. We walk, we go for rides to the library. I can’t imagine my life without her.
Mrs. H says
I completely agree with the article, and my puppy dog, I mean constant companion is one of my greatest joys. If I’m ever sick he curls up in bed next to me and comforts me all day.
My husband is currently recovering from an unexpected surgery and Mr. Puppers is playing a key role in his recovery, the snuggles!
Paige says
I believe it. We have 4 children aged between 11-16. My husband had to talk me into getting a dog at first b/c I didn’t want anything else to take care of. Let me tell you … 6th (after my husband and children) best decision ever! We have a Boston Terrier who just turned 5, and has brought our family so much love and joy. We fight over him everyday… who gets to snuggle him, hold him, sleep with him, walk with him, and many heated discussions on who he loves best, because we’re all convinced we’re each his favorite. Love, love, love it has to make you healthier!!
Julie P says
Brianna that’s so sad that you had such an awful experience. I have two labs, we’ve always had labs, we had them with our children but now our daughter and son are grown up and left home, we are on our third generation of dogs, Ruby and Bonnie. Our lives would be very different without them and much less healthy I’m sure. We treat them as family members, they are walked twice a day minimum, therefore we are walked briskly twice a day too. We take them on holiday abroad with us in our motorhome and they have their own passports because of border controls between mainland Europe and the uk. I cannot imagine our lives without dogs.
Carrie says
My dog definitely carries in plenty of dirt. I don’t let her lick me in the face but she does like to lick hands and any salty skin (like after working out). I can’t get her to stop. She keeps me on a schedule and I’ll pay for it later if we don’t get our morning walk in (she’ll have loads of energy that night).
Jenna Reeves says
I completely agree with the article. My husband and I were heartbroken after we had to put down our 13 year old lab. I said I would never have another dog but a week after loosing our Suzie we welcomed a new lab puppy we adopted from a shelter. My husband thought a second puppy would be great, and while I was hesitant, I was willing to consider another. Not soon after, a co-worker had a pitbull dumpted on their property and it needed a forever home. As soon as I saw his face I knew our home would be his forever home. Like many others, I thought nothing but bad things about pitbulls. I was just uneducated. That sweet, fat pup wants nothing more than to snuggle and be at your feet at all times. He’s much more laid back than our lab! They are sweet, sweet dogs and they make me smile and warm my heart every time I see them. We have no children so they are definitely our babies!
Carrie says
It took us 1.5 years to get another dog after losing our 10 year old boxer to cancer. I missed the cuddles and clicking of nails on the floor and her “dances” when I got home. I am wanting to get a second dog soon now that our cattle dog puppy is a year and a half. The local pitbull rescue requires adopters to have home insurance without breed restrictions and unfortunately mine does have restrictions. It’s bogus.
Jenny Young says
‘Give me the love of a little dog,
& I shall not complain at all,
Of rainy days or cloudy skies
or little dreams that fade & die.
Give me the wag of his little tail,
the bark that says
“I know you well, I understand”,
and I shall walk on holy land.
For fame & fortune burdens
And winter takes the roses of spring.
But the love a little dog,
Is a God like thing.’
by Lucy Dawson Mac
My dogs are the best comfort through hard things, the best company on lazy days…they give so much joy & never hold back their love no matter how lazy or negligent I might be. We always keep at least two or three dogs. When they leave us the ones we have give so much comfort. Getting a new puppy helps them heal as much as it does us & the new puppy is the dog to help us the next time we lose again. The first dog I lost I thought I’d never be able to go through the loss again but I’ve learned it’s so much better to love each one with my whole heart…just like they love me…& share that love with the next puppy in my life just as they would; freely with their whole heart.
Marg Tuinstra says
Mavis, if owning a dog has made you loose your muffin top (obvious in photo wearing summer shorts) I may consider getting another dog. You look fab!! I, too, love my dog Niko way more than I thought possible.
Earlene says
We haven’t had a dog in 11 years. We are getting a puppy this weekend, pretty excited!
lynne says
Definitely agree! We got our 1st dog 4 years into our marriage, a 2nd one 5 years after that. They have both gone to the Rainbow Bridge. Now we have 2 more, poodles, both rescues, and though I tell my HH these are the last 2, I can’t imagine life without their wet noses, puppy dog eyes, and snuggles. LynneinWI
Margie Hudgins says
Lynne,
I agree, whole heartedly. sp. In August of 2016 I lost my beloved Husband of 36 years. During the next 4 months, all three of our aging dogs passed away. I never thought I’d ever have another dog, as all of them mourned my husband nearly as much as I still am. But, 3 months ago I got two little 8 wk old male Yorkies, and my life has not been near as sad or empty as it had been. They really do give their love with all their heart. Margie
Susan says
I have had dogs all my life (big dogs, little dogs, all different types of dogs).
I like dogs. I have read your posts for years and it’s funny how much you have changed. Do you remember several years ago when you were going to different people’s houses and taking pictures of yourself in your p.j.’s?
(I don’t remember why).
Someone once asked you if that was your dog in the bed, and you replied,
” I would NEVER allow a dog to sleep in my bed!”
ha-ha
It’s nice how humans change throughout life and do not stay the same forever.
🙂
Mavis Butterfield says
I agree. Change is good. I never thought I’d be a dog person… but Lucy stole my heart.
Kyrie-Inn Blue says
I would never survive without my service dog Tao and my previous SD’s. Also training up the next SD prospect right now, a 6 month old Lab/Dachshund who is coming along reallllly well. Love the Lucy in every post!! <3
Practical Parsimony says
My dog bit me when I was two. We always had dogs, but I steered clear of them. I never took care of them. I have a sensitivity to dog that makes me itch and I am miserable. My hens kept me up and going. Just sitting and watching them scratch in the yard was good for my health. Until I have back surgery, I could not have a dog anyway. I think dogs in grocery carts are just nasty. I cannot stand the people who bring their pets and swear it is a service dog. I don’t think dogs should be allowed to go EVERYWHERE unless they are truly service dogs. I manage to catch fungus infections on my skin from dogs. I hate going places and stepping in poop. No, my life will be shorter because of dogs.
Patty P says
My grandfather agreed to “temporarily” take care of his sister’s dog while she was recovering from an operation. It was a little Pomeranian. We brought him home and grandpa grumbled about having to take care of him, but he had agreed to do it. He would feed him, pet him, brush him, and take him for a walk up and down our country road every day. It was so funny because as much as grandpa grumbled about the dog, he also made the dog his priority. If we were out somewhere he would ask what time it was and if it were the right time he would hurry us home because the dog needed his walk. It became pretty apparent that grandpa really enjoyed having the dog around.
He kept the dog “temporarily” until the dog eventually passed away (we’re talking years…). Grandpa passed away a few years after that, but we’re convinced that that little dog got him up and moving even when he didn’t want to….
Carrie says
My FIL was the same way with my dog. We had to move into an apt temporarily before our house was ready. He grumbled but ended up loving that dog and took her for rides in his truck daily. After we moved into the house he would come pick her up for sleepovers. I try to encourage him to adopt his own since our shelters are overflowing but he doesn’t want the responsibility (or to spend the money on vet care, etc.)