Facile Friday

Though my mourning period is not over, I am looking to the future.

It was a very sad day when our most excellent dog, Mooadeeb (Moo for short), had a seizure that just never ended.  He is missed everyday in our house.  We still wait for him to greet us when we come home, bark for us to give him some of our “much better than dog food” food and be a nudge to get some lovin’.  Moo was a force for good, but he was a dog after all.

Pets fulfill a basic human need to touch and be touched.  They were designed to lure us in with their big doggie eyes, floppy ears, funny monkey lips and cuddly nature.

Here are a few things that you may not know about dogs and the effects that they can have on us and our lives.  I call this section “Healthy reasons to get a dog”.

Ø  They can lower your blood pressure.  Really!  One study looked at a group of stressed out stockbrokers who suffered from hypertension,  they got them all a dog and their blood pressure dropped.  If they can do that for stockbrokers think about what they can do for you!

Ø  They can lower your cholesterol.  Add this to the lower blood pressure and you could fend off heart disease.

Ø  Dogs and their natural dirt and dander can actually be beneficial to young children by exposing them to lots of allergens and allowing their immune systems to build a tolerance.  That means it is OK for little Johnny to give kisses to Fido’s slobbery face.  Yep, no more reasons to freak out when your one year old is French kissing your poodle.  Ha, just testing you.

Ø  You will be more apt to survive and thrive after a serious illness or major medical procedure.  Why? Because people love their dogs and want to be there to take care of them and be loved by them.  Isn’t that awesome!

Ø  People with Alzheimer’s who have a dog will have fewer angry outbursts. 

Ø If you have a heart attack your dog can help you live longer after you recover. 

Ø  So if we fight harder to get home to Fido, it would stand to reason that when we are with Fido we don’t feel as depressed or lonely.  Dogs can fight isolation too, because they need to be walked and have always been   a great conversation starter. 

Ø  For the same reasons that we aren’t as lonely, dogs can reduce any depression we might be experiencing.  They increase dopamine and endorphins when we pet them and they keep us laughing and engaged.

Ø  Dogs make our home homier and your family a happier one.  With all of the other benefits; lower stress, better health, less depression, dogs help to keep a family’s mental health intact.  Did I mention that this means that the children are generally happier too?

Ø  Kids and dogs go together like peanut butter and and bananas.  Dogs can make your children kinder and smarter in addition to reducing allergies.  One study found that children with dogs rated higher when they were evaluated for empathy, cognitive ability and self-esteem.

So, as my blood pressure and cholesterol rise and my house seems  just a little bit less homey, I am looking for the perfect shot in the arm…. preferably one with floppy ears and a slobbery hello.  A new quest begins as we venture out into the world to find our perfect rescue dog or puppy. 
Wish us luck.

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