Should You Get a Dog?

A new study looking at dog owners found that seniors who own a dog tend to be less likely to have a disability than seniors that do not own a dog.

There are a number of factors that might influence this, the research team indicated. They found that those who own a dog tend to get more exercise than those that did not. Dogs require a lot of time and even the little things like feeding a dog, letting them outside, and giving them attention through playing and going for short walks can be the difference between some exercise and none at all.

They also found that the benefits of dog ownership ranged across different socioeconomic groups. Regardless of income, people that owned dogs were less likely to become disabled than those that did not.

This study was conducted in Japan by the National Institute for Environmental Studies. Although the study did focus on individuals of Japanese heritage, past research has indicated that dogs can be beneficial to other ethnicities, too. It is believed that the responsibilities that come with dog ownership help to keep people both physically and mentally active. Additionally, having a pet can help instill a sense of meaning and purpose in someone’s life. There’s no way to prove this definitively, but the authors of this research project gave this as a potential reason why dog ownership tends to lead to better health outcomes for longer.

A dog can provide a sense of meaning and purpose in someone’s life.

They published their findings in the journal, PLOS ONE.

Now, this study alone is not a good reason to go out and buy a pet dog for yourself or an older loved one. There’s a lot that goes into pet care, and you definitely don’t want to put a dog in a position where it’s not getting the care and attention that it deserves. However, a dog can do a lot to enhance your quality of life and provide companionship. There’s a reason why dogs are sometimes called man’s best friend! The right dog can bring joy and happiness like you wouldn’t imagine.

Dogs aren’t for everyone. I love my dogs, but they can be a lot of work, especially my puppy. It requires a lot of energy to walk her and take her out in the middle of the night when she isn’t feeling well. If someone isn’t fully committed to caring for a dog, it is easy to let these things slide. Unfortunately, a living thing can suffer as a result of this. Although there are a lot of benefits to getting a dog, they are not for everyone. Have a discussion with your older loved one before getting a pet for them.

Do you have questions about ways to help make an older loved one’s life a little bit better as they age? We’d love to talk! Please feel free to give us a call to schedule a free consultation today. One of our professional caregivers would be happy to talk more with you and get you pointed in the right direction.