The Emotional Advantage of Having a Pup in the Family

 There is no denying that dogs have a positive impact on all families.

Science has gone so far to show that pups can improve the health and well-being of the people around them.

However, this isn't the only benefit of having a dog.

No, your furry friend can also have a positive impact on the emotional and mental health of you and your kids.

If you need more proof, check out all the ways you can grow and improve when you have a pup around:

You Will Be More Compassionate

Pups can make it easier for humans to be compassionate.

This is especially true when it comes to kids.

Children who interact with dogs are automatically taught to focus on something outside of themselves.

As such, with time, they learn to be more empathetic.

There is also the fact that dogs can only communicate with people through non-verbal signals.

This means that adults and children have to figure out to read different signs and sounds to determine what their furry friends want.

Such skills can transfer over when dealing with other people as well, making you and your kids great at picking up cues.

Last but not least, dogs demonstrate selfless and unconditional love.

Thus, when you see your pooch bestowing you with constant affection and attention, you have no choice but to reciprocate. 

Kids Will Enjoy Higher Self-Esteem

You don't need to be told that children need the self-confidence to succeed in life.

Nevertheless, many kids can find it difficult to build their self-esteem.

This is because when they are younger, they keep encountering situations that they can't contribute to.

As such, they often feel like they are incapable of succeeding at specific tasks.

A dog, however, changes all of this. It doesn't matter how young your child is; they can help out with the pup in some way or another.

Older kids can assist with training or walking the dog.

Younger ones can handle supervised feeding and brushing.

In turn, kids will feel proud of themselves and appreciate that they have the power to help in meaningful ways.

This feeling can be significant in boosting their self-esteem.

Pups Provide Emotional Support

Have you ever had a tough day and then come home, hug your dog, and feel your troubles melt away?

Well, you aren't the only one with this experience.

Dogs are amazing at providing emotional support to both adults and kids alike.

Now, there are several reasons why pups are so good at this.

To begin with, they do offer unconditional love.

And, so, you will never really feel judged in their presence. Rather, you just feel loved.

This can be a great and freeing relationship to have.

There is also the fact that dogs seem to know just how to cheer you up.

It could be a simple act like nuzzling closer to you, placing their head in your lap, or licking your face when you are crying.

Regardless, this small action is enough to make you feel better and often put a smile on your face as well.

Evidence has shown that dogs help to reduce stress.

Thus, constantly interacting with your pooch can help you to feel calmer and more at ease, particularly when you are going through something tough.

At the very least, they will be able to take the edge off of the situation.

They Can Help with Anxiety

Anxiety is a prevalent issue – it doesn't spare children or adults.

In some instances, it can even be debilitating.

Well, if you or one of your family members do suffer from an anxiety disorder, a pup could be just the answer.

Understand, service dogs for anxiety have been specially trained to help you overcome such a condition.

In many cases, such a dog is trained to intervene when they notice the warning signs of a panic or anxiety attack.

They can even bring you medication to help ease such symptoms.

Thus, they can potentially ward off such attacks.

In addition, dogs can be a comforting presence, particularly in an unfamiliar situation.

Simply having them by your side could help you to feel more in control or well-protected.

Best of all, they can follow you wherever that you go, keeping you company whenever you need it.

Essentially, they can lead to a far higher quality of life.

Dogs Can Make You Happier  

Sure, your pooch makes you smile and feel warm, fuzzy feelings.

However, are you aware that this is due to an actual chemical reaction in the brain?

When humans and dogs interact, they both enjoy a surge of oxytocin.

This leads to a more positive emotional state.

 In short, there is a visceral positive reaction to petting or chilling with your pooch – you have no control over it!

What's interesting about this positive emotional state is that the effect lingers for quite a while.

So, even hours after you have interacted with your dog, you will continue to feel happy.

When you have a dog at home, you and your family get to enjoy these happy feelings all the time.

And, it is just as nice to learn that your pooch benefits from these interactions as well.

Thus, everyone is a winner!

Another way that pups help is by encouraging their owners to get more exercise and to head out into nature more often.

These two things are imperative to boosting your mood.

Therefore, you aren't just taking your dog for a walk each day, and you are helping your mental health.

How wonderful is this?

This just goes to show that one of the best decisions that you can make for your family is to get a dog.

Of course, you do have to ensure that you and your kids are up for the responsibility.

If you are, you should certainly work towards adopting a pooch.

You will be surprised to see how much better off your family will be.

Everyone will be happier, more compassionate, and a whole lot more responsible too!