Have a look on the internet and you will see how more and more people are waking up to the importance of having animals in their lives. The horrific incident that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School shook the entire country and left students feeling depressed. Later, when interviewed, the parents of many of these students shared how they used pet therapy to help their children get rid of the depression and saw positive results due to the use of pets, especially cats and dogs.
A little girl who got traumatized by the incident had difficulties speaking to her parents. However, she got to talk with her parents again after they adopted a dog. There are several such cases out there. It’s not common only among children, but adults as well.
Pets are used to treat soldiers who go through trauma, such as seeing a warzone or watching their friend lose. Additionally, elders use pets as well to feel better and healthy.
Let’s look at some of the qualities of a dog-human bond:
Dogs Are Best Counsellors
When children owning a pet were surveyed, most of them focused on their good listening and playing skills. Kids love dogs not only because they can play with each other, but also because they feel a connection with their pet.
Dogs help you feel calm as playing with a dog helps you forget the worries of the world and concentrate on the positive things in life.
Dogs descend from a family of wolves, and have been human’s friends for a very long time. The reason for such a behavior could be the fact that dogs do not exhibit xenophobia, in fact they are said to be xenophobic (feeling love for strangers).
Xenophobia is a feeling found in many animals which makes them get scared easily in the presence of a stranger. Nowadays, if we consider humans, even they are scared of interacting with strangers however most of the dogs aren’t and this is what makes them special and develop a bond so easily with a human.
This is why you find it so easy to connect with dogs. They make you feel comfortable and can win you over in no time. Petting a dog releases a hormone called oxytocin which is responsible for such a strong bond between a man and a dog. Not only this, having a dog can also help in reducing stress, maintaining one’s health and exhibiting a happy and a joyous mood at all times.
Empathy in Dogs
Dogs feel for their owners, and truly care for them. This makes humans feel comfortable in the presence of dogs. This is also why dogs are used for safety as people find it easy to trust them.
Additionally, dogs are being used for therapy as well. You can check out more details on dog therapy at TherapyPet.org.