Why do dog owners live happier, longer, and more fulfulling lives?

Sociologists and veterinarians have spent years investigating the positive effects that dogs have on people’s health and happiness, and their findings are now published in a book of science and testimonials, “100 Simple Secrets Why Dogs Make Us Happy—The Science Behind What Dog Owners Already Know”  by David Niven, PhD, bestselling author of the 100 Simple Secrets series.

This book describes, in detail, the health benefits of dogs, and it explains the correlation between your pet and health.

Here are some examples of the health benefits dogs give us every day:

• Dogs improve our communication skills. By providing a common point of reference and concern, dogs help us to feel a connection to other humans. That connection makes us feel more comfortable communicating with each other. According to Dr. Niven’s findings, when meeting a new person, the presence of a dog reduces the time before people feel comfortable while talking with each other by 45 percent.
• People who care for a dog live longer, healthier lives than those who do not care for a dog. On average, people who cared for dogs during their lives lived 3 years longer than people who never had a dog.
• Dogs get us. According to the book, dogs are uniquely attuned to the messages that humans send. Dogs study humans and have evolved to build social skills that help them to function around us.
• Dogs take us for walks. Having a dog means regularly talking walks—it’s something you do for your dog but in truth your dog is doing for you. Dog owners walk 79 percent farther in an average week than non–dog owners according to studies conducted by Dr. Nivens.
• Spoil your dog—in a good way. Feed your dog treats, like dogdration, and other healthy snacks, like homemade treats.