When our dog, Jed Walker, was just a pup I would find him waiting to greet me when I returned from work. Every day he’d be perched on our ottoman looking expectantly toward the entrance. As soon as I walked in the door and placed my work items aside, he would leap in a happy dance towards me. Having been a dog owner for decades, I can personally attest to how dogs are truly amazing and serve as great role models. They cheer us up in difficult moments, wake up with excitement to greet each day, and are happy just to be near us. Psychologist John Moore believes our pets tell us what happiness is all about if we carefully observe them. "Dogs are created for happiness. There is something in them that makes them wag their tail, try to lick us in the nose, look into our eyes and say ‘I love you’ in so many ways – no matter what happens in the world."

According to the Human-Animal Bond Research Institute, there's a phenomenon known as the pet effect. It's an umbrella term for the symbiotic — that is, mutually beneficial — relationship that develops between animals and the humans who care for them. While there's certainly plenty of anecdotal reports (including my own!) about the benefits of pet ownership, there is a growing body of research to substantiate the claims. Many of these formal studies have focused on the therapeutic value of pets for people with mental illness and autism.

Dogs wake up every day grateful to be alive and their mood is contagious. Every time you feed your dog, they react as though it's the first time they've ever seen food. Every time you grab the leash to take them out for a walk, they zoom back and forth in a flurry of excitement. Dogs do not think about what the weather is outside. From the dog’s point of view, gratitude is a sufficient reason for happiness.

And every time you walk in the door, they are bursting with joy. Dogs remind us that even though something may be routine, our happiness gets an immediate boost when we take the time to appreciate the everyday, mundane things that are part of our lives. Gratitude is a huge oxytocin booster with an enormous host of benefits including reducing stress, increasing positivity, and improving task productivity. Practicing gratitude regularly has been shown to make us more empathetic and pro-social. Similarly, when we are on the receiving end of gratitude we are inspired to engage in acts of kindness and organizational citizenship. Be sure to read Gratitude is Therapeutic Superpower.

Dogs are great at listening to their bodies and prioritizing their basic need for movement. We humans often find this more difficult to put into practice. Having a routine where you regularly get up from your desk, stretch your legs, and change your scenery is important for both physical and mental health. Movement helps us to see things from a new perspective and stimulates creativity. This can be helpful if we need to make a decision, process recent events, or when you find ourselves stuck in a creative rut. Dogs (and cats) love to play – fetching balls, tug of war, or batting around a toy. Although humans enjoy more complex play activities, there are literally hundreds of ways to add to play to your day (or, at the least, weekly) routine. Play can include participating in sports, biking, running, surfing, or just messing around with your kids or grandkids. I always say you are one workout away from being in a better mood!

Dogs take time off whenever they need it. We humans feel more inclined to power through and risk burnout. We are our own worst enemy when it comes to sleep. Our worrisome thoughts tend to release stress chemicals that keep us awake. The truth is, we need to feel a sense of safety in order to truly rest. We provide that security for our pets. Rest activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which helps the biologically balanced state of homeostasis and strengthens our immune system as the body goes into maintenance mode repairing and upgrading. Rest also has cognitive benefits. People who nap after learning new things are more likely to retain the new information in their memory. During periods of turbulence, change, and adaptation, it’s extra important to prioritize rest to help us adjust to our circumstances. If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of quality sleep, read Sleep: An Overlooked Ingredient for Wellbeing

As far as we know, dogs (and cats) don’t think about yesterday or about tomorrow. They listen to their needs in the moment. Whether it is to play ball, sleep or eat, they pay attention to what’s happening at the moment. You and I have lots to learn about living this way. Too often we are lost in thought - harboring unhealthy emotions about our past experiences or worrying about an uncertain future.

Dogs are constantly exploring the world around them and will never miss the chance to sniff every post, every bush, and every new friend ... even if they have visited this place or seen this friend a thousand times before. They tirelessly look for something new — a stick, a puddle, a leaf floating off the ground. Read Our Symphony of Senses.

When you are crying or feeling upset, who comes to you? Your dog (and sometimes your cat). Owning a dog is a great way to remind yourself (or your kids) that one of life’s basic needs is to be kind and take care of others. These small things are the ones that enrich our lives. Remember, everyone around you is going through something - we just need to pay attention to the clues. And be sure to be kind to yourself when you make mistakes or things don't turn out as you intended. Your dog doesn’t berate herself or worry about how others might judge him. While dogs are sensitive to human emotions, they don’t care what you or other people think (e.g. your cognitive thought or judgments).

In just a few moments your dog is already back to being happy after you’ve disciplined him/her. What about you? Do you hold hard feelings for a long time after someone hurts you? You have two options. Hold grudges or forgive. Considering the fact that holding a hard feeling can weigh you down emotionally and be bad for your health. It’s a lot more pleasurable to just keep moving forward through learning how to forgive the offender. Read Forgiveness - Release Your Prisoner.

With the exception of guard dogs who have been bred to be suspicious, most dogs make a basic assumption that people and other dogs are great! What would the world be like if we assumed the best, that everyone wishes us well and were conspiring to make our lives better? Our pets also help us to make human-to-human connections. We often strike up conversations with strangers with their pets at dog parks, community events, nursing homes, and walks around the neighborhood.

The best of us comes out when we are with our canine friends! Consider looking at the world through the eyes of our furry friends — get more movement, pay more attention to your environment, engage your senses (mindfulness), and invite friends to join. Try doing something for someone else without expecting anything in return. Consider journaling about your tail-wagging experiences in a gratitude practice!

If you would like to a yoga flow featuring Jed Walker and other furry friends, check out the Wellbeing Series from A to Z: P is for Play

How does your K9 companion boost your happiness? Share with us in the Wellbeing Elixir Community.

Cheers-

References

McConnell A R, Brown CM, Shoda TM, Stayton LE, and Martin CE. Friends with benefits: On the positive consequences of pet ownership. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 2011; 101(6) 1239–1252.

Curl AL, Bibbo J, Johnson RA. Dog Walking, the Human–Animal Bond and Older Adults’ Physical Health. The Gerontologist 2017; 57 (5): 930–939.

Mubanga M, Byberg L, Nowak C, et al. Dog ownership and the risk of cardiovascular disease and death – a nationwide cohort study. Scientific Reports 2017; 7: Article number: 15821