Why Owning a Dog could help you live longer

[RAZR63]

Taken from today's DM.

[sophie]

Totally agree, gets you out of the house for walks, gives you something else to think about other than yourself. You get a warm welcome when returning to your house, particularly if you live on your own. A wonderful way to meet others people, particularly other animal lovers. Even if they are little they act as guard dogs. Plus, in my case, 4 others to discuss what I should wear that day. You'd be surprised in the interest they take!

[Ragged Robin]

I totally agree Sophie, except for the clothes - mine only take interest if I put my "dog exercising" shoes on! Then they are jumping up an down each one trying to persuade me it is its turn!

People have known for ages that dogs are good for the aged and lonely, but also for the mentally and physically handicapped. Companion dogs are increasingly being used in the UK and US, for all sorts of things as well as the traditional guide dogs for the blind and hearing aid dogs. Mine are good hearing aid dogs as they always come to tell me, even if I am at the bottom of the garden, and can tell me by body language if it is friend, foe or just suspect stranger! I just wish they did not classify stray cats as the enemy.

I have not , however, so far been able to teach them to let me know the phone is ringing, let alone answer it.

The best of all, however, is how much pleasure the pleasure of a rescue dog can give and how it can overcome depression. My latest is just so full of joy at having a home of her own at last that she is always literally jumping for joy,, and I can feel her happiness spreading through the whole house.

[Keithcaley]

RR, I fully agree with everything that you've said.

Not to detract from it however, your remark about the telephone brought this to mind: -

[ozankoys]

Well Keith I am surprised to see that your mind is just a blank space, always thought you had an encycloepedia in there!

[Keithcaley]

Well Keith I am surprised to see that your mind is just a blank space, always thought you had an encyclopaedia in there!

Blank? - more like a vacuum

[rocking]

31 years here so we keep outliving our dogs, thank goodness. 2 pups now so this is going to be different