By PAGE Editor

Your quality of life is something that you should always be thinking about improving. Improving your quality of life can do wonders for your mental health. There are many different ways of improving it, ranging from eating a healthier diet to buying a dog. Buying a dog will be this post’s focus. Studies show that dog ownership can improve life satisfaction and decrease anxiety, which is why it’s something to consider. If you are interested in learning about some of the ways that having a dog can benefit you, read on.

Ethical Dog Breeders

Before explaining how a dog can improve your life, it’s important to mention ethical dog breeding. If you do plan on buying yourself a puppy, the experts from Pettito OKC make clear on their site that you need to buy one from somewhere that’s concerned about rearing happy, healthy, and ethically raised puppies. There are, unfortunately, puppy farms all over the United States. If you plan on buying a dog, you need to make sure you buy it from somewhere that has raised it without putting its physical and mental health in danger. Puppy farms are a scourge that animal rights activists are working to eliminate. If you do end up coming across an organization selling puppies you believe to have been farmed, you need to get in touch with an animal rights organization immediately.

Unconditional Love

One of the best things about owning a dog is that they love you unconditionally. There is absolutely nothing you can do to make your dog hate you (as long as you treat them right). Unconditional love can improve your mental health and confidence. You don't have to worry about going out of your way to be somebody else like you might around other people when you are with your dog. There is something very warm and homely about the way a dog loves its owner. Dogs can live a very long time, so for your dog’s entire life, you will have their unconditional love and mostly undivided attention.

Improved Mental Health

Mental illness is highly prevalent in society today. More people are suffering from conditions like anxiety and depression than ever before. Studies suggest that dog ownership can massively reduce a person’s level of stress, which by extension helps to combat both anxiety and depression. If you have been suffering from mental health issues, in addition to getting a dog, you might also want to get in touch with a therapist. A therapist will be able to talk you through your issues and help you understand what’s going on inside your head.

More Physical Activity

When you get a dog, you will exercise more. Your dog will need to go out for one or two walks a day. More than that, they will have you running around after them in their early years. Puppies can be hard to control. You will have to spend a lot of time standing up, and training your dog, too. If you do not have the time or know-how to train your dog yourself, you can enlist the support of a professional dog trainer. Dog trainers are widely available and are a great way to train your dog without stressing yourself out.

Providing Routine

Studies show that introducing structure and routine into your life can do wonders for your mental health. If you are having a hard time structuring your life, you will be pleased to know that the introduction of a dog can itself be an effective way to create a routine. Your dog will create its own routine. At a certain time of the day, it will wake up and it will want to go to the bathroom, then it will want to eat. Dogs do this almost naturally, so you have very little say over your dog’s routine. Gradually, you will familiarize yourself with your dog’s routine and it will become yours.

Emotional Support

Finally, a dog can provide emotional support. In times of emotional hardship, a dog gives you a shoulder to cry on. Also worth noting is that dogs are very perceptive and if a dog sees its owner crying, the chances are it will go out of its way to try and make them feel better. Some of the ways dogs do this include head bumping, licking, and rubbing themselves against their owners. Bear in mind that emotional displays can have a negative effect on your dog’s mental health so try to limit them.

Owning a dog can improve your quality of life for all of the reasons mentioned here. Make sure you buy your dog from a breeder who rears their dogs ethically. Also ensure you buy your dog from a breeder with good reviews, too.

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