Isn't Cous Cous (my Aunt's dog) just too cute! .... Was that a SMILE I just saw on your face? I did warn you :)
Well today I wanted to chatter about how amazing dogs are for us. WE have much to learn from them! Without a doubt in my mind, they are truly something SPECIAL. Speaking from personal experience, Buddy and Razz (and all those before them) have helped me to get through a few things and LEARN how to be a better me with their WARM LOVING personalities, EXCEPTIONAL company and FUN OUTLOOK to living. Watching them play and do their KOOKY things makes me GIGGLE and SMILE. Mr Freckles and I often give each other this knowing look when it happens.
Well today I wanted to chatter about how amazing dogs are for us. WE have much to learn from them! Without a doubt in my mind, they are truly something SPECIAL. Speaking from personal experience, Buddy and Razz (and all those before them) have helped me to get through a few things and LEARN how to be a better me with their WARM LOVING personalities, EXCEPTIONAL company and FUN OUTLOOK to living. Watching them play and do their KOOKY things makes me GIGGLE and SMILE. Mr Freckles and I often give each other this knowing look when it happens.
After losing our dogs Dj and Zorro to a tough battle with cancer a few years ago, my parents have firmly resisted getting another. If you've ever lost a family pet, you'll understand that empty lost feeling that follows. "It's too painful to lose another", they'd say every time I gently nudge at the topic. As that saying goes:
"But, it's worth it!", I remind them. "You save the life of an abandoned dog by giving it a loving home. Otherwise it would suffer alone at the pound and ..." well you know what happens from there. SO, I believe in the other saying too:
As it turns out, my parents recently found themselves with an unwanted puppy they were going to help rehome BUT he worked his PUPPY DOG MAGIC and won them over :) I can see the positive change in them already!
Interesting Stats
So after my extensive observations including scientifically unfounded research amongst pet owners (including my parents, friends and strangers), I discovered the following key findings:
Image Source: joyerickson.wordpress.com A 67% DECREASE in NAGGING, LECTURING
or EYE ROLLING related behaviour
towards others
Image Source: doblelol.com An 82% INCREASE in the number of successful FLIRTING to DATE to MARRIAGE conversions
Image Source: Families.com A 45% DECREASE in reported
CHRONIC MAN FLU DISEASE
(this one was a hard one to budge!)
One of the downfalls of furry families though is that there was a marked 57% increase in the "my dog ate my homework or report" excuse given. Whether this is fact or fiction is still to be tested. INTERESTING huh?
The REAL Health Benefits
OKAY, CHEEKINESS STUFF ASIDE :) There IS plenty of scientific research and personal accounts on the HEALTH BENEFITS of dog and pets! Did you know that they can:
- Decrease stress
- Lower blood pressure
- Ease pain
- Lower cholesterol
- Enhance your mood
- Increase social skills
- Increase attractiveness
- Prevent stoke and heart attack
- Help monitor blood sugar levels for diabetics
- Build immunity to allergies and eczema
- Help with healthy child development
- Detect cancer
- Keep you active
- Help you during seizures
- Steer you away from foods you're allergic to
- Rehabilitate you from illnesses
Check out these articles if you're interested in knowing more:
- Top 5 Health Benefits of Pets
- 7 Surprising Benefits of Dogs
- 10 Health Benefits of Owning a Pet
- 5 Ways Pets Can Improve your Health
- More Reasons to Love Dogs
I think Jennifer Skiff sums it up perfectly:
- Decrease stress
- Lower blood pressure
- Ease pain
- Lower cholesterol
- Enhance your mood
- Increase social skills
- Increase attractiveness
- Prevent stoke and heart attack
- Help monitor blood sugar levels for diabetics
- Build immunity to allergies and eczema
- Help with healthy child development
- Detect cancer
- Keep you active
- Help you during seizures
- Steer you away from foods you're allergic to
- Rehabilitate you from illnesses
Check out these articles if you're interested in knowing more:
- Top 5 Health Benefits of Pets
- 7 Surprising Benefits of Dogs
- 10 Health Benefits of Owning a Pet
- 5 Ways Pets Can Improve your Health
- More Reasons to Love Dogs
I think Jennifer Skiff sums it up perfectly:
“My dogs have been the reason I have woken up every single day of my life with a smile on my face. I am among the ranks of millions of people who appreciate the souls of dogs and know they are a gift of pure love and an example of all that is good.” - Jennifer Skiff The Divinity of Dogs
What do your dogs do to make your day, week, life oh so better? And if you haven't adopted a rescue dog into your family yet, maybe it's time?
xo Miss Freckles
xo Miss Freckles
