“My pets help me stay healthy, productive, and happy. And I hope I help them be happy and healthy too,” says Jacqueline Boyd, a senior lecturer in animal science at Nottingham Trent University in the U.K.
She identifies five ways pets improve their owners’ lives. The bond between humans and animals is mutually beneficial for health and well-being.
Animals Help Us Reduce Stress and Relax
Research shows that having a dog or cat at home can lower an owner’s blood pressure and heart rate. In that way, pets can be a vital source of comfort, security, and support. At the same time, our four-legged friends get similar support from humans: they enjoy affection and feel calmer.
Some owners even share their beds with their pets. But some experts advise against this: sleeping next to an animal can cause sleep disturbances, increase the risk of injury, and raise the chance of infection.
Still, many owners say the closeness of a furry friend improves their sleep by providing emotional warmth and a sense of security.
Animals Encourage Us to Build Partnerships
Building those relationships helps both owner and pet maintain their well-being.
Healthy human–pet relationships look like owners taking responsibility for their pets’ welfare. By contrast, unhealthy relationships can lead to aggression on both sides.
Experts emphasize training our four-legged friends with methods that foster positive partnerships. By interacting with a friendly, well-behaved animal, owners tend to adopt a more optimistic outlook on life, according to ScienceAlert.
Animals Help Us Make Friends Among People
Pet owners are more likely to have lots of acquaintances in their neighborhoods, says Jacqueline Boyd. Studies show pets act as a “social lubricant,” helping people connect with other animal lovers.
As a result, owners of furry companions often experience less loneliness and social isolation compared with people who don’t have pets.
Animals Encourage Us to Eat Healthily
Veterinarians say the average waistline of pets has widened. Aren’t humans following the same trend? Specialists warn that owners sometimes harm their pets’ health by passing along their own bad habits.
At the same time, watching a pet’s needs can encourage owners to eat better and exercise more. Over time, both pet and owner can adopt a healthier lifestyle.
Animals Instill in Us the Healthy Habit of Walking
For many people, having a pet leads to more regular physical activity. Walking is an affordable, accessible way for most dog owners to boost their fitness — and it benefits the dog, too.
People who regularly walk their dogs tend to have lower body weight and be more physically active than those without a dog. Researchers have also found that walking with pets at least three times a week can help alleviate back pain.
The positive impact of a pet on our lives is clear. Jacqueline Boyd says the relationship between people and companion animals should be mutually beneficial, healthy, and happy.
