My cockapoo Loulou is four years old today, and it seems the perfect moment to write my first ever post about why having a dog is good for seniors.
What are the benefits of seniors owning a dog?
A dog gives you companionship
Dogs are wonderful companions and like people, it’s their funny little ways that make them interesting to live with. Loulou is cute, cuddly and submissive by nature and she loves attention and treats. She does however have several little foibles. Her most enduring one is that whenever she is fed, she picks up her metal bowl and walks around the house with it in her mouth, whining and wagging her tail. She wants someone to chase her for the bowl and we always eventually oblige. It’s something she has done since we brought her home as an eight-week-old puppy and it’s become a twice daily ritual. We don’t know why she does it, but it’s just part of her. Every dog has its own distinct habits and personality, and it is this that makes them such good companions.
Most dogs love to be stoked and petted, and according to academic research, this can be good for the owner’s health. Stroking a pet has been found to raise levels of oxytocin, a hormone produced in the brain and released into the bloodstream. Oxytocin is associated with warm, fuzzy feelings and has been linked in some research to lower levels of stress and anxiety.
A dog gets you up and out in the morning
Every morning, rain or shine, I get up and take Loulou for a walk along the river tow path. Sometimes, especially in the winter, I don’t want to get out of my nice warm bed, but once I’m out there and moving, I’m always glad that I did. I get to feed the ducks and moorhens, sometimes to see the sun rise, and always to listen to the birds sing their morning chorus. I say hello to morning joggers and fellow dog walkers and nod to commuters rushing for their trains. It’s a really positive start to the day and one which I probably wouldn’t make if I didn’t have a dog to drag me out. There are also significant health benefits to getting out early and walking.
According to Dr Michael Mosley of the BBC podcast Just One Thing, exposing yourself to sunlight at any time of day significantly increases serotonin levels and helps to boost your mood. Additionally, by exposing yourself to bright light early in the day, you can help control your body clock. This means that you sleep better at night. In Michael’s words:
“From the moment you open your eyes in the morning, sensors at the back of your eyes detect light and send a signal to the tiny area within your brain’s hypothalamus that controls your body clock – your body’s natural sleep/wake cycle. Sunlight stops the brain making melatonin, a hormone that makes you feel tired – so it literally wakes you up during the day.
The sooner you get out and about, the sooner you will start to feel sleepy at night.”
Walking a dog is good for your health
The great thing about having a dog is that walking becomes part of your daily routine. I take Loulou out three times a day, every day, with each outing being between 20 and 40 mins. I don’t even think about it, I just do it, and by the end of the day I’ve usually clocked my 10,000 steps.
The health benefits of walking for older people are well known. Age UK lists them on their website as follows:
- It helps you lose weight
- It keeps your heart strong
- It reduces your risk of cancer
- It reduces your risk of type 2 diabetes
- It strengthens your bones
- It improves your mood and well being
- It reduces your risk of dementia
Harvard Medical Centre have also written a special medical report entitled ‘Get Healthy, Get a Dog’ which includes a section on how dog ownership improves the health of older people.
Walking a dog gets you talking to people
I’m not by nature a terribly sociable person and usually find it quite difficult to talk to strangers. But I’ve made a few acquaintances while dog walking. When you walk your dog at the same time most days you see the same people. First of all you just nod and walk past. If they have a dog too, you both pause for a moment and smile politely as the dogs negotiate the obligatory sniff test and then you walk on. Overtime you add a “Good morning” and a comment on the weather. Some people stay at this level, others walk along beside you and overtime you find out their name and little bits about their life. This morning for instance, I walked with a guy I see quite regularly. Today, Bank Holiday Monday he was walking with his nine-month-old baby strapped to his chest. We chatted about his recent trip to Disney Land Paris and US politics. It was a lovely start to the day.
I also love to walk the dog with my son, my sisters, and friends. You walk along side by side talking about this and that. The lack of direct eye contact as you walk and talk is somehow freeing. Conversation becomes more open and less restrained.
Things to consider
Owning a dog is not cheap. There are the costs of food, pet insurance and regular vet bills like vaccinations and worming. Certain breeds of dog can also have expensive grooming costs. Loulou is a cockapoo (cocker spaniel/poodle cross) and therefore doesn’t moult. She does however require clipping every six weeks to prevent her coat from becoming a matted mess. At about £50 a time this is pretty expensive.
You should also consider the age, size and temperament of the dog that you take on. Can you manage a large dog or one that needs lots of exercise? Could you cope with a puppy, or would rehoming an older dog make more sense? Obviously dog breed information from the Kennel Club can give you a good idea on a dogs eventual size and likely temperament, but it’s also a good idea to see the parents of any puppy you take on.
In conclusion
The bottom line is that I can’t imagine my life without Loulou in it now. My daily routine is worked around her, which gives it a natural structure that it otherwise would not have. She might make me poorer financially, but she makes my life better in every other way.
Do you have a canine companion? Are you thinking of getting one? I would love to see what you think, so do comment in the box below.
Thanks for reading, Sian.
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