Why People Love Their Dogs So Much

I grew up with many dogs in my youth and while we had them, we could sense their unconditional love and the attachment they bore towards us, their owners. As a child, I have been around many dog breeds like Labradors, Collies, Dobermans and German Shepherds. What I have learned is that each dog breed has their own characteristics and ways of interacting with us, with dogs like the Dobermans and German Shepherds obeying mostly a single member in the family. I have seen my father control the dog many times in ways my brother couldn’t and I have seen the dog completely attentive and well-behaved with my father around.

Dogs often seek attention from that one person in the family who can control them but that does not mean that the dog does not relate to other members of the family. The issue is with certain dog breeds, there remains a one-master relationship where certain dogs persist in observing a certain family member for direction in their lives.

Here are some of the reasons why people develop a strong affection for their pet dog. These reasons are typical of all dogs regardless of whether they are one-master dogs or not.

Dogs Offer Unconditional Love

Dogs are social animals and they can be truly affectionate. People feel a strong bond towards their dog because these animals can be truly affectionate and offer companionship filling up the void of loneliness. And because dogs can be non-judgmental, their ability to love their owners comes without strings attached and are based on unconditional love. Many people therefore keep dogs because of the need for companionship and dogs in turn fill that void offering joy and love to their family. Because these animals are unpretentious beings, we derive comfort from their constant play for attention, giving us happiness and joy where loneliness may have once occupied us.

Dogs Reduce Our Stress Level

Dogs have been shown to be stress reducers, and studies have shown that having a pet dog can reduce the cortisol levels which are stress hormones. It also increases the oxytocin levels, known as love hormones, which reduces stress and anxiety levels. The value of having a pet dog is a real benefit to people because of the positive benefits derived from having such pets around us. Studies have also shown that dogs improve one’s blood pressure leading to an overall benefit in the cardiovascular health. Somehow, the interaction of man and dog is a rewarding benefit that helps in the overall body and mental focus, leading people to keep dogs for companionship and love.

Dogs Offer Protection

Dogs not only offer unconditional love to their owners but they also offer security and protection to their owners. Those who keep large dogs such as the German Shepherds and Dobermans, enjoy the protection that comes from these sturdy and active dogs. German Shepherds will not only protect and guard the home, but they are also protective of the young children and babies in their family. Other dogs that stand to guard their family include such breeds as the Doberman, Rottweiler and the Labrador. I remember an incident very well which happened to us when I was a child. My mother was in the house when our Doberman suddenly barked at her to gain attention. When she realized that our dog was trying to communicate to her and kept barking for her to follow him, she was shocked to see what Rover was directing her attention to. Nearby was a wall to our garden and resting against it was a large chameleon. My mother thought it was a snake at first when it popped its head out against the wall and then realized it was a chameleon and that Rover was warning her to be careful of it.

Hence, dogs adopt a protective code when it comes to their family. They will do anything to keep their family members protected and are perfect for guarding the house and children from unnecessary and unwanted attention.

Conclusion

There so much of benefits to be derived from having dogs in the household. These loving pets truly improve our health and it can be a joy to be around them constantly. For instance, the constant need to take them for walks also forces us to walk and keep our weight under control. It also helps us to be more active and improve the cardiovascular flow in our bodies. Some people keep service dogs to help them move around due to certain disabilities they may have. For instance, Golden Retrievers and Labradors may be trained to guide the blind or the crippled, while police dogs like German Shepherds help eradicate drugs from being trafficked into the country. The list simply goes on about the benefits of having a dog as a pet. While this list is no means exhaustive, it is created to highlight the importance of dogs to our lives and the benefit provided to the overall mental and physical well-being of our lives. Indeed, no one can find a replacement for dogs. The world will be a truly dull place without these furry beings around us and the constant companionship they offer lasts for several years depending on the lifespan of the breed. Their offer of companionship and the love they give, makes them a true member of the family.