Our Dogs Bring Us JOY!

We are in the holiday season and it is a busy time with lots to do between work, family and extra festivities.   Sometimes I get sad at this time of the year because of the memories I have of Christmas Past and I think of my grown children and miss when they were small.   I am blessed I get to see them and spend time with them but the magical part of Christmas is now different.  I have relatives and friends I have lost and it is sometimes hard when you miss them and the traditions you had with those you loved.  Our two dogs Madison (Portuguese Water Dog) and Amber (Shih Tzu) give us a different kind of Holiday Happiness and they help keep both of us in our routine because they depend on us for everything. 

Our dogs bring a different kind of JOY to our lives.  We love taking them for walks, running around the yard with them and just hanging out on a Sunday afternoon.  They also make us get up and get out since they need daily exercise (and so do we!)  Having a dog makes your life fuller, and healthier. If you have to walk your dog a couple of times each day, you are better in shape than someone that does no walking. Because a dog offers unconditional love, they can treat your depression naturally because a dog brings happiness and this happiness releases endorphins that are a natural anti-depressant. You feel better when you are with your dog and therefore your mood is lifted and brighter.  Coming in from work (no matter how bad your day was) and seeing your dog wag it’s tail will totally put a smile on your face and melt that bad mood!

Your dog doesn’t care if you have your make up on or if you are hanging in your sweats at home!  You can be who you are and they still love you unconditionally.  There is nothing better than a four legged bundle of fur cuddled up on the couch or in bed while you are snug as a bug in rug reading or watching TV. 

It is a known fact having a dog will help someone who is lonely.  Live Science reported Pets are good sources of social and emotional support for everyone, not just people facing health challenges, new research suggests.

“We observed evidence that pet owners fared better, both in terms of well-being outcomes and individual differences, than non-owners on several dimensions,” study research Allen McConnell, of Miami University said in a statement.  “Specifically, pet owners had greater self-esteem, were more physically fit, tended to be less lonely, were more conscientious, were more extroverted, tended to be less fearful and tended to be less preoccupied than non-owners.   

So here’s to our two 4 legged bundles of JOY this Holiday Season!
May you have a happy, healthy Holiday Season with focus on what brings you JOY!