How Getting a Puppy Benefits Your Life - Mentally, Physically, Socially

While all pet owners know adopting a puppy is a big responsibility, bringing a furry friend into your home can positively impact your life for years to come. Puppies are of course irresistibly adorable and fun to play with. However, did you know that there are also a wide variety of physical health and mental health benefits of owning a puppy? If you are ready to start living your best life today with a dog at your side, check out Forever Love Puppies, our highly acclaimed puppy store serving the Miami, Aventura, Pembroke Pines, Kendall and Ft. Lauderdale areas. Read on to learn about how a canine friend can assist you in living a happier, healthier life. 

Companionship

Many older people suffer from loneliness due to their children growing up and moving away. Loneliness is incredibly detrimental upon a person’s mental health and can lead to depression. This is where adopting a puppy can save the day. There are many social benefits of getting a new puppy, with one of the greatest being companionship. 

The constant, loyal love that a puppy brings helps alleviate loneliness. In a very short amount of time after you bring him home, your dog will develop a bond with you. The connection between a dog and their owner is unbreakable in a sense that is often different with human relationships. A dog does not judge your actions or hold grudges. He is not capable of betrayal. Studies show that this social support can not only help alleviate loneliness but can even prevent depression. 

It’s not just older people who can benefit from the companionship of a dog. Everyone can benefit from this type of pure love. Dogs also help give us a sense of purpose. Even on hard days, they help push us to get out of bed and provide them with our attention. They also help us to stick to a daily routine, something essential for a well balanced life. A dog can help provide for a deeper sense of purpose outside of simply caring for oneself. If you want a loving, loyal companion to have by your side for years to come, check out our puppies for sale here: Puppies for Sale

Emotional Benefits of Getting a Puppy

There are many emotional benefits of bringing a new puppy into your life.  Most people are familiar with service dogs, often in connection to assistance for those who are visually impaired. In addition to service dogs, there are also emotional support dogs that offer mental and emotional assistance. Unlike service dogs, emotional support dogs don’t require any specific training aside from being able to behave properly while in public. Studies show that emotional support dogs can help individuals with a wide variety of social or mental ailments such as PTSD, anxiety and depression disorders, situation induced stress, as well as social shyness. These types of dogs are often prescribed or recommended by a psychologist or doctor, depending upon a patient’s needs. Not sure that your apartment or housing agreement permits animals? In many situations, apartment complexes will make exceptions for official and licensed emotional support animals under the Fair Housing Act. 

While doctors aren’t sure exactly what it is about a dog that can help lower a person’s stress and anxiety levels, research shows that time spent with one can lower the heart rate of patients. When playing with a puppy, the brain has been known to release oxytocin, a hormone associated with a surge of happiness. Those suffering with stress and difficulty sleeping due to traumatic past events may begin to experience alleviated symptoms within just a week of bringing home a puppy. Animals are able to tune in to our body language and tone of voice and can even pick up on the fact that their owner is experiencing distress. Many have been known to go sit by their owner during these episodes to offer their support. 

Looking into getting an emotional support dog of your own? Start with picking the breed that is right for you. Technically, any dog can offer emotional support so you are not limited to a particular breed. However, there are some breeds that have been known to be particularly good for emotional support due to their demeanor and high intelligence. Some of these include the Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Poodle, Corgi, Pug, Chihuahua, King Charles Cavalier Spaniel and Yorkshire Terrier. Take a look at our available puppies, here!

After selecting your new puppy, it is time for some beginner training. The dog should be able to follow basic commands, walk alongside you while on a leash and behave well in public. Once these steps have been completed, you can reach out to a licensed therapist in your area or online. The licensed therapist will then provide you with an ESA (emotional support animal) letter on your behalf on letterhead. 

Once you have gotten your dog properly licensed, it is also a good idea to ensure the dog has a well fitted collar or harness and some identification tags. Click here to view our collar and harness options as well as our additional dog supplies. 

It’s not just those with a mental health disorder or heightened stress that can benefit from an emotional support dog. We all have bad days or times when we could use a little extra comfort. A dog’s support, empathy, and unconditional love are qualities we all can benefit from. If you’re ready to bring a loyal emotional support dog into your life today, then we have the puppy for you.

Social Benefits of Getting a Puppy

Not everyone has an outgoing personality and finds it easy to make friends with new people. If you’ve recently moved to a new city and need to find a circle of friends, your puppy might be your greatest wingman. Consider how many times during a walk through a park a puppy stops to smell another dog? This isn’t just great socialization for your pooch but also a great opportunity for you to strike up a conversation with the pup’s owner. Puppies are excellent at breaking the ice. And after all, you already have something in common with any fellow dog walkers you come across! 

Mindfulness

There are many mental benefits of having a puppy. Dogs help us to be present in the moment. Even when your thoughts are racing and your mind is going a mile a minute, your pup will help you to remember to focus your attention on the present moment. Dogs help to ground us and recess our priorities.  Even while taking a simple walk to the park, dogs are constantly taking in their surroundings. This includes everything from the sights and smells to the sounds of the people and other animals around them. 

Instead of rushing through a walk with your pup in hopes of getting it over as quickly as possible, you can take the time to slow down. Learn a lesson from the dog’s example and soak up the moment while tuning in to your surroundings. 

Responsibility

Bringing a puppy into your home is a lot of work as it requires regular meals, fresh water, exercise, as well as regular grooming. Of course, those that love their furry friend know that he is well worth the work. It is because of a puppy’s regular needs that they can be a great way to teach responsibility. 

Many parents agree to bring a puppy into the family with the intention of teaching their children some valuable life lessons that will benefit them for years to come. Caring for a puppy helps a child to develop a greater sense of compassion, patience, trust and respect. They can also be a great way to boost a child’s self esteem. A child who tends to be more shy and introverted can benefit from a dog’s loyal, judgement free and unfaltering love. The responsibility the child has in caring for the dog will also help them to feel more confident in their own abilities. The child will also learn from the dog’s loyalty how to be a good friend to others and how to treat their family members with love and respect. 

Studies show that children who care for dogs also exhibit an increased motivation in other areas, such as reading. At Forever Love Puppies, we offer a wide variety of family friendly dog breeds that have been known to work well with children.

Physical Benefits of Getting a New Dog

In addition to providing for companionship and emotional support, puppies also boost their owner’s physical health. Studies show that dog owners tend to be more active and more likely to reach their fitness goals than individuals without dogs. This is due to the fact that dogs promote movement by requiring their own exercise. Every dog, regardless of size or age, needs daily exercise, even if it is just a quick stroll around the neighborhood. 

If you work at the computer all day or spend most of your time sitting at a desk, you may find that you live a primarily sedentary lifestyle. Having a dog will prompt you to get up, get out, and get some fresh air and exercise. It is often recommended to shoot for 10,000 steps a day in order to stay fit and healthy. The Department of Health and Human Services breaks this down to 150 minutes of moderately intense exercise a week. While this may seem like a lot, it can be divided up per day to become more manageable. For example, this goal could be reached quite easily by taking a brisk 30 minute walk with your dog five days a week. 

Regular walking helps reduce your risk of facing a variety of health problems such as heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Regular walking with a dog has been proven to be even more beneficial than walking alone as they are likely walking faster and getting more mileage. Get walking today for both yourself and your puppy!

In some areas, a boiling hot summer or brutal winter can make outdoor walks unpleasant or even unsafe for you and your pup. Nevertheless, exercise is still essential and can be done in other ways. Playing fetch indoors is an easy way to burn calories for your dog. However, it might not be enough activity to get your heart rate up. Don’t worry, there are plenty of indoor exercises that you and your dog can do together. For example, you could try some puppy push ups using your dog as resistance! Or you could try some puppy planks. If you’re looking to strengthen your core and become more flexible, try out some yoga with your puppy at your side. To find an extensive list of exercises you and your pooch can do together, see here.

At Forever Love Puppies, we believe every life is made better with a puppy in it. Everyone’s lifestyle, home environment, and preferences are a little bit different. It is for this reason that we offer a wide variety of puppies, including everything from the large and magnificent Siberian Husky, to the pocket sized Chihuahua. Are you or one of your family members allergic? Have no fear, we might still have the perfect puppy for you as we offer a variety of hypoallergenic breeds. Whatever your needs are, we will work with you to help you find the perfect pooch that will enhance your life for years to come. Don’t waste anymore time, start living your best life both physically and mentally today by bringing home the pet of your dreams. Check out all of our adorable puppies for sale today!