10 health benefits of owning a dog

Dogs bring happiness to their owners and that can add years to a person’s life

It’s a doggie-dog world sometimes, so to get an edge you might want to consider getting one yourself.
Owning a dog actually has many health benefits people might not be aware of. Here are the top 10 reasons why owning a dog can actually make you a healthier person.
10. Teach responsibility – By owning a dog you’ll have to be a more responsible person to take care of the animal.
9. Keep you motivated – If you don’t feel like going out for a regular walk or run with the dog, the pooch will make sure you get up and get moving.
8. Weight loss – Some studies show that walking a dog for 20 minutes a day can help people lose up to 10-14 pounds in a year.
7. Get tricky – Dogs can do some fun tricks, like play Frisbee or fetch with you.
6. Boosts your immunity - Incredibly, kids who grow up with a dog in the house have fewer allergies over the course of their lives. Regular exposure to pet allergens can also help boost the immune system.
5. Protection – A dog can provide great home protection with his barking and presence.
4. Recover faster – Studies have shown having a dog who relies on you can help you have a motivating factor to recover faster after a health problem.
3. Loyalty – Even if everyone at work is bugging you and you’re not getting along with the family either, the dog will be there to pal around with.
2. Lower blood pressure – The combination of exercising with a dog and its ability to improve your spirits can help lower your blood pressure.
1. Oh, Joy! - Dogs bring happiness to their owners and that can add years to a person’s life. You know what they say, a dog is man’s best friend.
These have been 10 reasons to back that up.

At Home Fitness consultant Aaron Dorksen’s blog deals with a variety of fitness topics, ranging from workout tips, motivational ideas and feature stories on how exercise impacts people’s lives. E-mail him with comments, questions or ideas for future blogs at aaron@athomefitness.com

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