Dogster is reader-supported. When you buy via links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no cost to you. Learn more.

Do Dog Owners Live Longer? 10 Health Benefits of Having a Dog

Written by: Dogster Team

Last Updated on March 5, 2024 by Dogster Team

owner cuddling and hugging her pet pomeranian dog

Do Dog Owners Live Longer? 10 Health Benefits of Having a Dog

There are a lot of good reasons to own dogs. They’re cute, and fun, and they provide companionship. According to some people, dogs can even extend our lives by improving our physical, cardiovascular, and mental health. And studies tend to back up these claims, with some showing that dog owners have lower fatality rates than those with no dogs.

Read on for more about the health benefits of owning and keeping dogs, and how a canine companion could help improve your life.

dogster paw divider

The 10 Health Benefits of Having a Dog

1. Companionship

Dogs offer unconditional love. They can also be very empathetic and provide affection and support when it’s needed. For those who live alone, having this support can help stave off loneliness while also giving a reason to get up and move around.

Loneliness is a major cause of depression, so any steps that people can take to prevent it are beneficial.

female owner of welsh pembroke corgi dog using mobile phone
Image Credit: SeventyFour, Shutterstock

2. Stress Reduction

There’s a reason that therapy dogs are used in hospitals, care homes, and other facilities around the world. Caring for a dog can help reduce stress because it gives people a reason to get up and do things.

Even the rhythmic stroking of a dog can help reduce stress levels and prevent anxiety 1. It lowers blood pressure, slows the breathing rate, and even helps to unknot stressed muscles. All of these benefits add up to reduced cortisol, which is known as the stress hormone.


3. Improved Cardiovascular Health

Dogs help reduce stress levels. They also increase physical activity. Both of these can improve cardiovascular health and reduce the risk of suffering heart-related conditions. Even talking to your dog can help reduce anxiety and enjoy the knock-on effect of better heart health. Studies back this up, showing that dogs can improve heart health in owners 2.

owner walking the miniature schnauzer dog at the park
Image Credit: Anton Pentegov, Shutterstock

4. They Can Help Combat PTSD

Dogs help us cope with difficult situations, and they have been used to help veterans with PTSD. In studies, veterans with PTSD were better able to cope if they had a service dog, as opposed to those with no dog. Your dog can help you cope with difficult situations at home, too.


5. Improved Physical Health

You might be surprised at how far you actually walk when taking your dog out. Start a step tracker or health app when you head out and take a look.

I walk between 8,000 and 10,000 steps a day with my dog, which is roughly 4 or 5 miles. That’s 4 or 5 miles a day I wouldn’t be walking if I didn’t have her. It’s also around the total distance we are told we should be walking every day. Walking is not only good for the heart, but it also strengthens and maintains muscles and keeps the joints moving, which is not only important as you’re aging but also as a means of preventing certain conditions.

With the right dog, you could even advance from walking to jogging, or take up a canine sport that gets both of you moving more.

mixed breed dogs with the owner outdoor
Image Credit: elbud, Shutterstock

6. Dogs Can Help Us Lose Weight

Getting out and walking more is one way to help lose weight. The most effective weight loss plans combine calorie-controlled diets with exercise. The exercise doesn’t have to be high-intensity exercise, although walking at a brisk pace is more effective than walking at a casual pace.

Get a dog that likes walking or even one that can partake in canine sports and get your sneakers on.


7. Improved Perception

Not only do dogs directly help combat loneliness, but they do so indirectly as well. Dog owners are more likely to meet new people and studies show that dating profiles that include a picture with a dog improve the chances of prospective partners matching with them.

Similarly, people with pets in their photos are shown to be more appealing to potential partners.

welsh corgi cardigan dog and his owner
Image Credit: Krichevtseva, Shutterstock

8. Dogs Improve Sociability

I sit at home working most days. I don’t meet people at work, so walking Tula is a twice-daily relief. It not only gets me out of the house and into fresh air, but it means I meet other dog walkers and other people.

We strike up conversations about our dogs as well as pleasantries about the weather and what’s happening in our local town. And, while it might not seem much, this small amount of social interaction can turn a mundane day into a more enjoyable one.

Dog ownership has led to friendships and even partnerships being formed for millions of people. Organized dog walks, even puppy training classes, and time in the local dog park are all opportunities to meet other people: people you have at least one thing in common with.

Even if you don’t strike up new friendships with the people you meet when walking, you will enjoy more social interactions over the day, and social interactions are good for people.


9. Dogs Make Us Care More

Dogs have facial features that apparently make people more caring, which means there is a scientific reason you want to approach and love dogs when you see them. This caring response not only counts for the dogs, but also carries through into the rest of our lives, so dog owners are more caring than people who don’t own dogs.

owner petting a happy dog
Image Credit: Bachkova Natalia, Shutterstock

10. Dog Owners Have Lower Mortality Rates

According to several studies, dog owners had lower mortality rates than people who didn’t own dogs, which suggests that you are likely to live longer if you own dogs.

dogster face divider

Conclusion

Owning a dog isn’t the right choice for everybody. People with allergies or with inappropriate lifestyles, for example, won’t benefit from having a dog in the same way as others. But, for some people, owning a dog can improve physical and mental health. It can also help forge friendships and create social connections with people around them.

The physical exercise that owning a dog entails can improve heart health, reduce stress, and help lose weight. And dogs are shown to be very effective at reducing stress and anxiety levels. Before getting a dog, do ensure it is the right lifestyle choice for you and the rest of your family, though.


Featured Image Credit: Alina Kruk, Shutterstock

Get Dogster in your inbox!

Stay informed! Get tips and exclusive deals.
Dogster Editors Choice Badge
Shopping Cart

Pangolia

© Pangolia Pte. Ltd. All rights reserved.