Puppy Advice

4 great benefits of having a dog in your life

There are so many great reasons to share our lives with a dog. From being faithful companions and boosting our health and wellbeing to showering us with unconditional love. Here’s four great benefits of having a dog in your life.

4 great benefits of having a dog in your life

Companionship

He is so happy to see us he u-bends. Even if we’ve just popped upstairs for 2 minutes!

Dogs are described as man’s best friend for a very good reason. Studies have found that people can feel closer to our dogs than friends, families and partners. When we have to say goodbye to a four-legged companion, the emotions can be just as deep, if not deeper, than when we grieve for a human family member or friend. 

Such are the companionship benefits of dogs, there’s a growing number of owners signing up their dogs to volunteer with Pets as Therapy. They give their time visiting hospices, hospitals and care homes, offering hugs and wags to help brighten up the lives of patients and the elderly.

Exercise

I definitely spend more time outdoors than I used to.

The NHS recommends that to stay healthy you should do at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity or 75 minutes of high-intensity activity every week. The recommended amount of moderate-intensity activity equates to just 20 minutes a day, 7 days a week. This is easily achieved by walking the dog. Whilst the exercise needs of dogs depends on their age, breed and health, getting some daily exercise will be beneficial to most dogs. And it’s good for you too. 

Jogging or running with a dog is not recommended for dogs until they have finished growing. This will vary from breed to breed.  Your dog’s ability to run will also depend on their breed and health. Therefore, if you like the idea of having your dog as your running companion, it’s a good idea to check in with your vet first. 

Health & wellbeing

The smile he puts on our faces whenever he greets us.

As well as the physical benefits of having a dog, science has found they can boost mental health too. 

A dog is a great excuse for getting outdoors for a good walk to enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits associated with being in nature. Having a family dog is also a great way to encourage children to step away from their screens and spend time exploring the great outdoors. Exposure to nature has been found to have enormous benefits for child development. It stimulates them intellectually, socially, emotionally and physically.  

Dogs are also great for the workplace too. Businesses are increasingly recognising the stress-busting benefits of dogs. Employees with access to dogs report feeling less stressed than those who do not. In response, a growing number of businesses have introduced dog-friendly policies so that dog owners can bring their dogs to work. And with more people working from home these days, our canine colleagues are on hand to get us away from desks and out for a nice lunchtime walk.

Unconditional love

My gorgeous Miss Darcy brings me and hubby so much joy, unconditional love.

Without a doubt, first and foremost, the number one thing that dog owners love most about sharing their lives with a canine companion is that their love is unconditional. From the moment you wake up and are greeted by your dog’s happy face and a wagging tail, your day is instantly filled with love. 

Dogs give us so much in terms of love and support. They can sense when you’re feeling down and know just how to give the paw-fect cuddle. In fact, they are the best pick-me-up to brighten up any dull day. Life really is better with dogs.

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  • “I can’t imagine a tutor better than Kelly. She was so reassuring and helpful, and skilled in getting us through the exercises. Her fondness for the dogs and enthusiasm was obvious.”
    —   Emma
  • “Puppy School has been an all round excellent package from start to finish but the greatest asset to this training was Sally! Sally was calm, clear and responsive to us all so you feel you get the benefit from being in a group of handlers and puppies with all the benefits of that but also individual attention to support you and your puppies specific needs/issues. Banjo is a nervous puppy, Sally was very sensitive to this and managed situations so Banjo benefitted from all the training exercises and interaction in a very positive way. She also gave me lots of support in how to help him outside of class. It was also brilliant to have a booklet and online access at home to watch reminder supporting material videos of the things taught in each session. There were also a range of vouchers and free trial bags of different foods which has proven helpful in determining what works for Banjo. I have had several puppies over the years, and have been to several classes, this has been the best experience yet for both me and my puppy. Thanks especially to Sally! ”
    —   Maria
  • “It was a small class of 4 puppies which was perfect. Caroline was always in control but the class was relaxed and most of all the puppies had fun. I enjoyed every week and the manual reflected the practice each week so we could practice at home. I genuinely felt sad when it came to an end after 6 weeks. I will absolutely recommend this class.”
    —   Mark
  • “Great experience. I’ve been to dog training classes in the past and the instructors can be very “it’s your fault”, “you’re doing it wrong” to the owners, however, Eleanor was very patient, kind, and explained things in a helpful way rather than making you feel like you were at fault. Loved these classes. Rum loved them too!”
    —   Ryan
  • “We had such a wonderful experience with Jacki as our Puppy School tutor! She is incredibly knowledgeable, patient, and supportive. Jacki explains training techniques clearly and makes them easy to follow, which really helped us feel confident. She creates such a positive learning environment where both the puppies and owners feel comfortable. Her calm, encouraging approach made a huge difference for our puppy, who grew in confidence and picked up new skills quickly. You can really see how much she cares about the dogs and their families. Thank you, Jacki, for giving us the tools we need to continue training and for making the classes such an enjoyable experience!”
    —   Penelope