Lately, you’ve been feeling stressed out to the max. You log in to your email and are greeted with several fires you have to put out, but there’s not enough time in the day. You have forgotten to eat due to how busy and overworked you are. You aren’t getting enough sleep because your brain is flooded with anxious thoughts, tripping up those sheep you’ve been trying to count.
You need a trip to the day spa, but that thought gets pushed aside as you ride the wave of anxiety and depression, struggling to keep your head above water.
As you get home well past quitting time, your puppy runs toward you and showers you in little puppy kisses, her tail wagging a mile a minute. She is overjoyed to see you, her smile lighting up the room. As you feel her wiggly warmth against your tired body, you feel the stress melting away.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and organizations nationwide are raising awareness about mental health and wellness. Mental health involves social, psychological, and emotional well-being from childhood into old age. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 1 in 5 Americans live with mental illness challenges. Mental health does not just affect the mind; it also affects a person’s physical health with increased risks of diseases and comorbid conditions like heart disease and obesity.
People living with mental health issues can take a variety of actions to maintain their wellness. One way to boost mental health is to be a pet owner. The mental health benefits of having a dog are scientifically proven with research studies demonstrating how pets lift a person’s mood. Learn how pet ownership positively affects your mental health in various ways and qualities to look for in an emotional support dog.
Ways Your Puppy Can Positively Affect Your Mental Health
Several research studies conducted explore how the human-animal bond increases mental health and wellness. One study by Brooks et al. (2018) reviewed 17 studies examining the therapeutic effects pets have on mental health. They found overwhelming positive results among over 1700 pet owners living with mental illness, noting, “Pets were able to provide unique emotional support as a result of their ability to respond to their owners in an intuitive way, especially in times of crisis and periods of active symptoms.” Many of us do not need a review of scientific studies to tell us what we already inherently know.
Here are some positive ways pets affect mental health to help people living with mental illnesses.
Increases your exercise
Being out in nature and moving your body are positive ways to get your blood pumping while you clear your head. Taking a walk is also a great way to work on your bond with your puppy and give them mentally stimulating opportunities to sniff around, greet other dogs and people, and meet their daily exercise requirements while attending to their bathroom needs.
Regular exercise has a positive effect on mental health, acting as a natural anti-anxiety treatment, helping you sleep better, reducing comorbid diseases, and boosting your mood. If you need help getting started or are intimidated by a walk, start off slowly with our dog walking tips for a great experience.
Alleviates your stress
When you are stressed, you may feel like you’re going to burst. Your heart rate is elevated, you can feel your blood pressure numbers creeping up, and you may feel an overwhelming sense of anxiety. Stress affects your mental and physical health in dangerous ways.
Stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline are chemicals produced by the body in response to stress. They trigger the "fight or flight" response, increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and glucose levels to prepare for action. Prolonged exposure to high levels of stress hormones can lead to various health issues, including heart disease, obesity, and weakened immune function.
Science tells us that real biochemical events happen in our bodies when we connect with our dogs. Being physically close to your puppy can release “good hormones” responsible for our happiness and contentment, including dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins. Snuggling with your puppy can have a direct effect on both your mental and physical health leading to overall wellness in all areas.
Establishes a daily routine
Creating a daily routine with a puppy schedule gives you a reason to get up and out of bed to care for your puppy’s necessities. Puppies need to be supervised, taken out to potty, and exercised daily. They also thrive with a routine as they know what to expect. Our puppies are completely dependent upon our direct actions to care for them.
Studies show that repetitive, predictable routines help reduce anxiety and provide a calming effect for people with mental health challenges. People can learn to take control of their days rather than letting them slip by.
More social opportunities
It can be hard to come out of our shells when suffering from depression, anxiety, and other mental health challenges. When you’re out and about with your puppy, you’ll inevitably attract attention with people wanting to Oooh and Aaah over your precious puppy. You can use these as opportunities to decrease loneliness and find purpose in human connections.
Speaking to people over a common shared interest can help you feel more connected to people, especially during times of self-isolation. It’s also a perfect opportunity to see if you have any common interests with the person you’re meeting.
At the same time, you’re socializing your dog to react well to strangers. Puppies need new experiences and opportunities to meet new people to get comfortable being out in public. Not only are you getting some face-to-face interaction, but you’re also exposing your puppy to socially positive experiences.
Qualities of Emotional Support Dogs
While there are designated guidelines and registration for official ADA Service Dogs, there is not a singular governing body of rules for emotional support dogs. In addition, sometimes the terms "service dogs" and "emotional support dogs" are interchangeable. It’s up to you to train and raise an empathetic, obedient, comforting puppy as your emotional support animal. Always check your lease agreement, company policies, and local businesses to see how emotional support dogs can stay by your side, as different circumstances will follow certain rules and guidelines for ADA-trained service dogs and other assistance dogs. If you’re looking for the best emotional support dogs to join you on life’s journey, you’ll learn they tend to have similar characteristics.
In tune with feelings
An emotional support dog will be able to pick up on your general moods and know when to give extra support via snuggles or staying by your side. A mental health crisis is not the time for your dog to be independent or aloof when you need her the most. Choose a dog breed known for companionship, loyalty, and desire to be with their owners as a default disposition.
Easily trainable
If you’re going to have your puppy around other people and go on outings, it’s extra important to go beyond basic puppy training commands to ensure an impeccably well-behaved dog. Emotional support dogs should be eager to please and easily trainable. Stubborn or independent breeds may not be a good fit if they have their own agenda or take a long time to master simple commands.
Well-socialized
It’s crucial to socialize your emotional support dog as early as possible. Expose them to various environments, situations, sounds, sights, smells, and other people and animals. You don’t want your dog to growl or lunge at other dogs, nor do you want them to be afraid of strange noises and bolt off your lap when you need her the most.
Boost Your Mood With a Pawrade Puppy
You probably already know how crucial it is to take care of your mental and physical health. What better way to do that than by getting a puppy? Several of our Pawrade team members have adopted puppies through Pawrade themselves and know first-hand how puppies can instantly improve your mood and benefit your mental health long after those first puppy kisses. Browse our puppies for sale to find the best emotional support dogs to lift your spirits.
