Reasons Dogs Make Good Pets
- Dogs display compassion and loyalty.The woman and dog image by Cosmic from Fotolia.com
Dogs are labeled "man's best friend," despite the time and monetary investment required to keep them as pets. Dog owners can name hundreds of reasons why dogs make good pets, though they aren't ideal pets for everyone. Some of the main reasons dog lovers sing the praises of canines include their loyal nature, lively dispositions and steadfast companionship. - Dogs are independent and dependent at the same time. They are independent in that they can think, learn, make decisions and engage in social interactions with people and other animals. This independence is tempered with a dependence on their caretakers. Dogs need their owners to provide care, time and affection. This dichotomy provides unique challenges and rewards that dog owners find pleasing, according to "Dogs for Dummies." Dogs express their needs, unlike cats who display a higher level of independence and may seem aloof most of the time.
- Individual dogs have different personalities. Low key owners can choose a mellow dog, while energetic people can find a dog who loves to run, hike and swim. Dogs come in a variety of sizes, shapes and colors. Owners can choose dogs based on both looks and personality.
- Even dogs not trained to guard homes display an innate sense of territoriality for their homes and families. Dogs are pack animals by nature, a trait stemming all the way back to their common ancestor, the wolf. The domestic dog, Canis lupus familiaris, considers its human family to be its pack and its home to be its den. Even dogs without notable aggressive tendencies protect their homes and owners when provoked, according to "Be the Pack Leader."
- Dogs can be trained to hunt, retrieve, play games and do tricks. They can compete in sports or work on a farm. Dogs can be trained to aid those with health problems or the police. Some dogs can be trained to detect seizures, panic attacks or life threatening changes in body chemistry, according to "Dogs for Dummies." In short, dogs can be trained to work and to play, making them fully functional members of a home and family.
- Owning a dog provides tangible physical benefits, according to a study published in the Veterinary Research Communications journal. A decrease in health problems was noted within as little as one month of pet ownership, according to a study in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. Dog owners receive more physical exercise than cat owners, leading to an increase in overall health and well-being. Dog owners are significantly less likely to die from or in the year after a heart attack than cat owners or people without pets, according to a 1995 study published in The American Journal of Cardiology.
