{"id":2243,"date":"2021-02-08T19:59:27","date_gmt":"2021-02-08T19:59:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.petbutler.com\/?p=2243"},"modified":"2026-02-25T10:57:37","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T15:57:37","slug":"healing-power-pets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.petbutler.com\/healing-power-pets\/","title":{"rendered":"The Healing Power of Pets\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">It\u2019s no secret that dogs are amazing creatures. Whether<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">&nbsp;they are<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">&nbsp;snuggling up on the couch or giving us plenty of slobbery kisses, they always find a way to make our lives better. What some people may not realize<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">&nbsp;<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">though, is that their presence has direct, measurable benefits to our health and quality of life.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:257}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559731&quot;:720,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:257}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What does the science&nbsp;<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">say?<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Over the past couple decades, veterinarians and scientists have studied the impact of having a dog in the home. It turns out, they have much more to offer than being man\u2019s best friend. Research shows that dog owners suffer from fewer illnesses and recover faster from sickness than their counterparts. Owners make fewer trips to the doctor\u2019s office, they have reduced pulse rates and blood pressures, and they handle stress far better than most people.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">O<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">n average, dog owners have lower cholesterol, they deal with blood sugar levels and diabetes more effectively, and they are less likely to suffer from mental health issues. Lastly, their survival rates from surgeries, cancer treatments, and heart attacks are notably higher than other patients.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:257}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:257}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What&nbsp;<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">is<\/span><\/b><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">&nbsp;the physical healing power of pets?&nbsp;<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">These benefits happen for several reasons. First, exercise from walks and trips to the dog park elevates our metabolism and contributes to our daily activity. As science has shown time and time again, routine exercise \u2013 even in small amounts \u2013 is hugely beneficial to our wellness. The second way dogs affect our bodily health is through mealtime. Behavior experts have concluded that sharing meals with a friend or loved one, including pets, impacts the amount we eat. Overall, it results in a more leisurely meal which improves digestion and decreases caloric intake. Combined with the exercise, these lifestyle changes encourage a much healthier weekly schedule. Third, dogs regularly improve our brain\u2019s chemical makeup. When interacting with dog in a positive way, our brain releases the hormones serotonin and oxytocin \u2013those releases lead to increased feelings optimism, trust, and confidence.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">W<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">hen massaging, petting, or cuddling a dog, our brain decreases the cortisol (stress hormone) and increases the dopamine (pleasure hormone) levels in our system. Ultimately, these chemical changes affect our attitude, energy levels, and state of being.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:257}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.petbutler.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Untitled-design-2021-01-29T161841.725-300x251.png\" alt=\"man hugging large fluffy dog\" class=\"wp-image-2245\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:257}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What is the social healing power of pets?&nbsp;<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Dogs provide several social and behavioral advantages to their owners. They help train humans to have stronger and more respectful relationships, they provide social outlets for their owners &#8211; which makes us more confident, outgoing people \u2013 and they further development of characteristics like patience, self-control, and compassion. According to sociologist Leslie Irvine, an expert and lead researcher at the University of Colorado-Boulder, dogs can affect our behavior to an even greater degree. Her study on the intersection of homelessness and pet ownership have given insight to the power of a dog\u2019s influence: she\u2019s gathered testimonials from people who credit animals with saving them from criminal danger, abusive relationships, drug abuse, and suicide.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:257}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:257}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What is the behavior healing power of pets?&nbsp;<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Once again, this happens because of how dogs affect human behavior. Pets don\u2019t judge us or act aggressively towards us, and our brain learns from and mimics that temperament. Their demeanor encourages humans to more appropriately connect with each other and build healthier friendships. The dog park is a particularly good place to practice social skills, as there are usually so many different people and pups nearby. For more introverted or lonely people, this can be very important for mental health. Lastly, they give humans a purpose. Taking care of another being is a unique&nbsp;<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">experience and<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">&nbsp;having an obligation to support and protect someone makes us stronger. Training a dog provides humans a chance to learn about other creatures, themselves, and how to be a better person. In a lot of ways, a puppy is like a child \u2013 and the benefits from raising one are similar in nature.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:257}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:257}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Truthfully, there has never been a better time to own a dog.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Since 2020,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">&nbsp;<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">r<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ates of loneliness and depression are higher than they\u2019ve ever been. While dogs can\u2019t fix all the pain we feel, they are a place to look to for support. Pets are therapeutic in&nbsp;<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">a number of<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">&nbsp;ways and they fulfill emotional needs of love, security, and comfort. Don\u2019t forget to look to pooches as a shoulder to lean on as we head out of this winter together \u2013 they are here for us, just as we are here for them.<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">&nbsp;<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">At&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.petbutler.com\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Pet Butler<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"none\">, we want you and your pups to help each other live happy and&nbsp;<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">prosperous<\/span><span data-contrast=\"none\">&nbsp;lives. Don\u2019t waste your time together picking your pets poop, let Pet Butler do it for you. We scoop poop so you don\u2019t have to. Schedule your scooping service now!&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:257}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It\u2019s no secret that dogs are amazing creatures. Whether&nbsp;they are&nbsp;snuggling up on the couch or giving us plenty of slobbery kisses, they always find a way to make our lives better. What some people may not realize&nbsp;though, is that their presence has direct, measurable benefits to our health and quality of life.&nbsp; &nbsp; What does [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":2244,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"slim_seo":{"title":"The Healing Power of Pets\u00a0 - Pet Butler","description":"It\u2019s no secret that dogs are amazing creatures. Whether &nbsp;they are &nbsp;snuggling up on the couch or giving us plenty of slobbery kisses, they always find"},"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[155,25,156],"class_list":["post-2243","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-dog-behavior","tag-companionship","tag-pet-wellness","tag-healing-pets"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.petbutler.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2243","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.petbutler.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.petbutler.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petbutler.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petbutler.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2243"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.petbutler.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2243\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petbutler.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2244"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.petbutler.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2243"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petbutler.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2243"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.petbutler.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2243"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}