Benefits of Man’s Best Friend
Bring Your Dog to Work With You!
March 31, 2011 | 
Author Dogs are working as office assistants for helping professionals…
A growing number of psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers and other therapists are bringing their dogs to work in their private practices. It is here that they help calm patients down, cheer them up, and offer a happy distraction with a wagging tail. It makes sense that dogs are increasingly being used in the helping profession, as more and more research is showing how dogs can ease symptoms of depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD and agoraphobia.
The Wall Street journal ran an article on this type of working dog. View it by clicking Here.
Posted in Benefits of Man's Best Friend, Therapy Dogs | 
Tags: Office dogs, Therapy dogs | 
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The Family Dog can have ENORMOUS Health Perks For Your Kids!
Your kids may use the following information against you when convincing you to buy a Dog. But getting a dog has it’s up-sides that may cancel out muddy paws, and vet bills, says Christine Carter, PhD., a sociologist and the author of: Raising Happiness. “Dogs can have ENORMOUS happiness and health pay-offs,” she says. The reasons to (maybe) give in and get one, even if it means dog hair everywhere are:
THEY CAN BRING ON THE CALM.
Cuddling with a furry-friend helps children to relax. “Petting animals tends to slow our heart-rate and make us feel calmer,” Carter says. Adult dog owners also had lower blood pressure when responding to stress than their pet-less peers, researchers at The State University of New York, Buffalo found. *PLUS taking care of animals teached kids empathy and increases their emotional intelligence, other research has noted.
THEY COMBAT ALLERGIES
Kids who live with a dog are 50 percent less likely to develope allergies, a study from Detroit’s Henry Ford Hospital and Medical College of Georgia shows, possibly thanks to compounds called endotoxins found in the mouths of dogs and also cats. Kids dont need to French-kiss Fido, they are exposed to them through petting, wrestling, & play.
THEY HELP KIDS (AND PARENTS) COPE
Having a furry-friend at home to turn to can help kids get through ough times like moving to a new school, or dealing with their parent’s divorce, says Susan Dawson, Ph.D., a researcher in The United Kingdom who has studied animal therapies for traumatized Bosnian children. How? Dogs provide un-conditional love and conpanionship. They also encourage play and laughter, which is also why dogs may help adults dealing with depression.
THEY FIGHT WEIGHT GAIN
Kids with dogs took 360 more steps and exercised 11 more minutes daily than those without dogs, a recent study from St. George’s University of London found! Put kids in charge of daily walks and potty breaks to maximize the benefit.
Come on! You Know Your Kids Are Right!!…Get on out there and choose the perfect dog for your family & let the lovin begin:)
Loving Your Pooch Can Relieve Stress!
Feeling stressed? Turn to your pup for some love and affection!
Too much stress can impact the quality of our lives from health to relationships. The good news? Your dog can help! Research tells us that your pooch can be a helpful ally against a stressful state of mind.
A study out of the University of Pennsylvania has measured what happens physically when a person pets a friendly and familiar dog. They found that the person’s blood pressure lowered, heart rate slowed, breathing became more regular and muscle tension relaxed. A study published recently in the Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine not only confirmed these effects, but showed changes in blood chemistry demonstrating reduced amounts of stress related hormones.
It seems that like other enjoyable activities, playing with a dog can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine — nerve transmitters that are known to have pleasurable and calming properties. As if you needed another reason to love your pooch! Give some affection today…your body will thank you!