Top 5 Reasons People Over 50 Should Own Dogs

The other night, I was talking to the person who runs trivia at a local pub. We started talking about dogs. I mentioned that my sister’s dog that we thought had run away was returned to us three weeks to the day we knew he was missing. He said that he loved dogs and I told him about the little dog I have and the big dog that I used to have. He told me about an Australian Shepherd that he had when he was younger. He wants a dog, but his wife won’t let him have a dog. Knowing how my dogs have helped me, I knew that at his age, a dog would be a great a pet. Here are reasons people over 50 should have a dog as a pet.
Dogs Force Exercise
No matter the size dog, it needs exercise. Both big dogs and little dogs like to go for walks. Even if little dogs are not taken for walks, they love to play. Tugging, tossing balls, and often times having to retrieve balls gives the dog owner exercise.
Dogs Help Reduce Stress
Scientific studies have shown that dogs help reduce stress. Even on the most stressful day, sometimes even when the stress is caused by the dog, it can help the owner to sit and pet the dog. This lowers blood pressure and calms the owner.
Dogs Give Unconditional Love
No matter what the owner is doing, the dog loves the owner. Dogs don’t know how to judge people. As long as the owner provides food, water, and shelter for the dog, the dog will love the owner. This is good for everybody as there are times that everybody feels like they are not loved. A dog is the perfect solution for days when the owner doesn’t feel loved, even by family and friends.
Dogs Provide a Listening Ear
Even if dogs don’t understand what is being said, they will listen. An owner can talk to a dog and it will usually stay and listen. If the dog doesn’t want to stay, easy bribes are attention and food. The dog will most likely stay. It will not care how much the owner complains or cries. If the owner is happy, it will want to play. Even though dogs can’t understand everything we say, a dog knows when its owner needs love, cuddles, or play time.
Dogs Provide Security
Dogs are protective of their owners. A dog will protect its owner and its owner’s house (also now its house). Criminals do not like dogs because dogs sense when things are wrong. If a criminal is trying to get into a house where a dog lives, the dog will make noise and scare the criminal away from the house unless he is brave enough to deal with a noisy dog. A noisy dog along with an alarm system at the house is a good way to make sure the house is always protected.
A few other reasons for people over 50 to own dogs are that they make excellent heaters, they eat extra food or food accidentally dropped on the floor, and that dogs create social situations with others when walking with them or talking about them.
Sources:
Healthy Reasons to Own a Pet | HealthStatus – How is your health? . (n.d.). Health Status Health Risk Assessments and Health Calculators. Retrieved February 11, 2012, from http://www.healthstatus.com/health_blog/2008/07/15/healthy-reasons-to-own-a-pet/
Kolowinski, R. (n.d.). 10 Good Reasons to Own a Dog. Rose Kolowinski on HubPages. Retrieved February 11, 2012, from http://rosekolowinski.hubpages.com/hub/10-Good-Reasons-to-Own-a-Dog
Top 10 Best Reasons to Own a Dog. (n.d.). Top 10 Lists. Retrieved February 11, 2012, from http://http://www.top10-best.com/r/top_10_best_reasons_to_own_a_dog.html


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