We’ve all known, or at least suspected, this for a long time. But now it’s official.
According to LabDoor.com, an independent research and information company dedicated to educating people about their health, dog owners reap amazing cardiovascular benefits, including lower cholesterol, reduced blood pressure; and have a lower likelihood of visiting the doctor.
Dogs are a great stress reliever. Children who have dogs are more active, and become more nurturing adults.Dogs enhance physical and mental health, and can help speed up recovery from illness. For the full report, go to www.labdoor.com/article/the-health-benefits-of-mans-best-friend.
Well, now that it’s official, I don’t have to be embarrassed about picking Buddy up and hugging him just for the pleasure of a hug, kissing him on the nose, or letting him sleep with me. Buddy is a bona fide healthcare giver. Oh, and one more thing, it’s OK to tell your pets that you love them.
I’m thankful for the day I was wandering around and “accidentally bumped into Buddy” at Wayland’s animal shelter. We have been thick as thieves ever since. He watches from the window when I leave, is waiting for me at the door, turning circles, when I come home, and pesters me endlessly when it’s time for his walk. In fact, that’s the reason I haven’t fenced the back yard, it gives me an excuse for walking Buddy — twice a day. That’s one of the big reasons for the health benefits of a dog — it gets humans walking.
One day I thought I’d lost ole Buddy Boy. We were on our usual morning walk using the 12-foot retractable leash. I laid the leash down to feed the squirrels and fill the bird bath. Buddy usually sits tight when I do this. I turned to pick up his leash, and he was gone!
I searched, and hollered, and flagged down motorists to ask if they’d seen a little black dog with a white chest. None had. Even though it was chilly, I broke out in a cold sweat, a deep-gut panic setting in. Had he been hit by a car? Had someone picked him up? He’ll jump into anyone’s car.
I cursed myself for my negligence, a vision setting in of life without Buddy. I prayed and hollered. I turned around, and there he was! He was sitting a few feet behind me, his chest stuck out. A fragment of the leash hung from his neck. It must have gotten caught, and he had chewed through it! I picked him up and we went home, ole Buddy Boy washing my ears the whole way.
He often sleeps on his back during the day, feet up in the air, his brown eyes following me around the room. “I’m the cute dog, you can rub my belly.” A ritual: I usually do 30 minutes of aerobic exercise in the morning, either on the treadmill or elliptical machine.
To keep Mr. Buddy Boy from chewing up things, like my shoes, while I’m in the basement exercising, I give him a chew treat. And he anticipates it. I have taken to hiding the chew treat in my pocket while I’m putting on my shoes. He sniffs it out, and tries to pull it out of my pocket. Cute!
If you want to please someone, be nice to their dog. And, a study has shown, if you want to appear more friendly in a photo, include your dog.
I was about to say that Buddy Boy is loyal to the end. However, the other day when I was sick in bed from a reaction to the pneumonia shot, I was a little disappointed that ole Buddy Boy wouldn’t curl up at me feet and “take care of massa.”
He spent most of the time in a chair looking out the window. When the UPS driver came to the door, Buddy did circles and a belly-up for him. Most dogs hate the UPS driver! When the driver left, Buddy tried to get in the truck with him. Traitor dog!
But Buddy is everybody’s buddy. I’ll keep him. And, just maybe, be healthier for it. Hug a dog a day.
Have a good story? Call or text Curt Swarm in Mt. Pleasant at 319-217-0526, email him at curtswarm@yahoo.com