Benefits of Pet Ownership

Human interactions provide people with considerable social support and dog ownership can provide the social support, too.

Psychologists at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, and Saint Louis University in St. Louis conducted experiments examining the potential benefits of pet ownership among people.

The findings?

Pets serve as important sources of social support, providing many positive psychological and physical benefits.

There was evidence that pet owners fared better, both in terms of well-being outcomes and individual differences, than non-owners on several dimensions.

People who own pets are more physically fit and conscientious, have greater self-esteem, and tend to be less lonely and fearful.

Pet owners were just as close to key people in their lives as to their animals, indicating that pet relationships did not come at the expense of relationships with people.

Does any of this surprise you?

Dogs and Boyfriends

A while back I shared in a blog how Brinkley and Ginger met or how Jayme and Brian met.

Balancing the most important relationships in our lives can often be a bit hectic. Whether your parents like him is one thing, but if your dog and your boyfriend do not get along it can make the relationship rocky. I found seven tips for making the perfect introduction and fostering a dog-boyfriend bond that will last as long as he does.

1. Choose Wisely

Let's face it. There are dog people, dog tolerant people and dog despisers. Making an educated choice in your significant other will involve an endless number of variables. However, if you are a dog person and he is not, the likelihood that things will workout without hesitation is probably a bit far fetched.

2. Baby Steps

No matter how you cut it, having a boyfriend is going to cut in on the quality time you once spent with your pooch. While some relationships may spark an instant connection, being conscious of the necessity to remain a devoted dog mom will go a long way. Dogs can be quite perceptive, so when your new boyfriend comes over and takes you away from Fido for extended periods of time, he is not making friends fast. It is a good idea to tailor your new dating itinerary to maintain the schedule your dog is used to, gradually working up to extended away periods if needed.

3. Honesty is the Best Policy

There are times when too much information can send a potential boyfriend running. Talking about past relationships is certainly off limits, but your pet companion is not only a great conversation starter, but a good idea for letting Mr. Right get prepared to share your attention.

4. Know Your Dog

Each dog personality is a bit different and each will handle a major life change, like the addition of your new boyfriend, in their own special way. For example, skittish dogs that do not typically enjoy visitors, will require a slow and steady introduction plan that might even take weeks to months before they are comfortable with one another. Other happy go lucky pooches will bond to anyone that has a pulse. These dogs require far less planning and perhaps even a single meeting will establish a strong bond. In most cases, the typical dog-boyfriend introduction period will fall somewhere in between these extremes.

5. The Way to the Heart

For many dogs, the way to their heart appears to lie in their stomach. If your pooch is treat responsive and loves special treats or toys, this is a great tactic for bonding your boyfriend and pup. A can of special treats close to the door, or even in the most cooperative boyfriend's car, is a great idea. Each time your new love interest comes to visit, Fido gets a special treat and presto, boyfriend visits are now a super exciting event.

6. Making Magic Happen

If you are looking to make them inseparable, here is a foolproof plan. Incorporate your dog as an integral part of date night. Taking Fido and your new man to the lake for a picnic, going for a hike together and even brief games of Frisbee are great ways to interact with these two. In the process of spending quality time with your favorites, they will be forming a bond that lasts and lasts.

7. Take Advantage of a Girls' Night Out

While time together is great, there is nothing like one on one time for your boyfriend and pooch to truly bond. So the next time a girls' night out presents itself, take the opportunity to leave and have your guy come over to keep your pup company.

These seven steps are great ways to ensure you will never hear the ultimatum, "It's me or the dog". However dogs are consistently considered good judges of character so if Rover refuses to play nice, pay attention.

A Dog for A Christmas Gift?

The bond between humans and dogs is a beautiful thing, and watching it develop can be almost as satisfying as forging it yourself. So it’s not surprising that dogs are such a popular gift idea.

The person who gives a dog as a gift gets a front row seat to watch those first wonderful moments. But think about the scene in which you present your loved one with their furry gift, and look at it from the other side: the excitement of the holidays can produce a frenzied, almost manic atmosphere, and excited energy like that can be an unhealthy way to begin a new canine relationship.

As Cesar Millan, Dog Whisperer, says dogs need structure and leadership, and shrill cries and cheers from a new pack leader in training don’t fit the bill. He believes that those first key moments should be met with a calm, assertive energy so that puppy can get acclimated to the new family hierarchy – affection should be saved until the dog’s fresh energy has been burned off and he is ready for sleep. Cesar feels that sometimes it is even a good idea to hold that affection until several days into your new relationship; as much as a week is recommended.

Another speed bump along the road to a responsible pet ownership is making sure that you choose a dog that fits with the energy of the person who will be receiving it and with the rest of the family as well. Following through on this may mean involving the gift recipient in the selection process. For this kind of gift, a carefully wrapped IOU can be given in place of the animal itself, to let the person know that their gift is coming (many shelters offer packaged gift certificates for exactly that purpose!) Their face may not be covered with puppy kisses after the big reveal, but you can be sure there will be a broad smile in it for you!

Remember: dogs can make wonderful gifts, but unlike sweaters or socks, they aren’t as easily returnable if the fit isn’t just right. The new owner must be ready to make a commitment for the animal's entire lifetime and be prepared to accept the responsibilities that come with their new family member. The relationship between human and dog must be approached with care and respect – only then will you have a gift truly worth giving!

Dogs and Relationships

Relationship expert, April Masini, and Stanley Coren, Ph.D., a psychologist and author of The Intelligence of Dogs (Free Press), enlightens us on the traits of a man and his best friend.

The American Kennel Club recognizes twenty-eight groups of dogs (one is miscellaneous), but not all breeds may be a suitable match for you, nor your pick of a dog man.

Read this article to discover how to make a dog-person love connection that will make you both happy.