They are much more than faithful companions or dear playmates for children. How dogs help us humans to become healthy and happy.
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It is the unconditional loyalty, the feeling of being truly loved and accepted, which makes life with a dog so beautiful and satisfying. Dogs are fixated on their owner, no matter how humorous or what went wrong in the job - they love unconditionally. "Social contact with the dog can be a very deep bond, " says dr. Andrea Beetz from the Human and Animal Research Group of the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg. "The dog is always there for you." The cuddling and stroking is wonderful, especially women feel that way.
But dogs have much more positive influence on us, on our mental well-being. This is confirmed by several recent studies: They calm Alzheimer's patients, and depressive people have better chances of recovery when they get in touch with dogs. And: dogs help to reduce stress. After just 15 minutes of playing or cuddling with them, important messenger substances in our bodies change: The happiness hormones serotonin and dopamine increase, the stress hormone cortisol decreases. We feel much more relaxed, brave, confident.
Dogs do not only provide better mental balance. They also contribute to our physical well-being. Studies show that people with dogs are fitter because they go for a walk with them regularly. Dog owners even rarely need to see a doctor.
Dogs are also ideal helpers to get in touch. "If you go for a walk, you are often smiled at, addressed, " Dr. Andrea Beetz. With dogs you get closer to your fellow man faster, as evidenced by a study by the Rheingold Institute in Cologne. Seventy percent of the respondents said they had already started a flirtation about their dog - because the dog approaches people and automatically provides plenty of conversation.
More and more dogs are used in therapy - for example, in difficult to train young people. "The dogs are icebreakers" Andrea Beetz. "They help the therapist to get closer to children and adolescents." Therapists with dogs are considered more friendly, studies say. Even adults help the animals in concrete terms as therapists. People with limited motor skills learn to move their hands, arms or legs faster with the help of dogs. Infarct patients, who were regularly visited by dogs for a US study, had better heart and lung scores than a control group without dog contact.
Often Golden Retrievers, Labrador or other floppy-eared breeds are used as therapy dogs. The reason: You are more friendly at the first contact than dogs with pointed ears. In principle, however, all dogs that have a balanced nature can be trained as a co-therapist, say experts. Mainly they are used in occupational therapy, in psychotherapy and in the social field, for example in retirement homes.
