What Are the Health Benefits of Having a Dog?

• Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.

Many pet parents would agree that having a dog has lots of benefits—but did you know that it’s actually good for you?

A study by Friedmann et al. 1980 provided some of the first evidence that pet ownership offers positive health benefits. Subsequent studies have offered evidence that pets can help to lower human stress hormones, reduce blood pressure, boost moods, and ease loneliness.

For a closer look at how having a dog benefits humans, we spoke with Alana Jaeck, a licensed therapist and pet loss grief expert at Not Just a Pet.

Dogs May Lower the Risk of Heart Disease

One of the more surprising powers of the dog-human bond is its potential to impact cardiovascular health. Studies suggest having a dog is correlated with:

• Lower blood pressure
• A lower risk of heart disease
• Better outcomes after a major cardiovascular event

When you consider the physical activity that goes into caring for a dog, the heart benefits aren’t so surprising. Dogs, with their need for daily walks and regular enrichment, cause people to be more active—and physical activity is often the best thing for your heart.

But mandatory exercise isn’t the only way dogs might lower your risk of heart disease. “Dogs help people manage anxiety and stress, which also benefits their heart health,” explains Jaeck. For example, a 2007 study found significant improvements in patients with heart failure who interacted with therapy dogs.

Dogs Help You Get—and Stay—in Shape

For lots of pet parents, walking the dog becomes an important part of our own fitness routine. Studies show you’re significantly more likely to meet your physical activity needs if you have a dog. In fact, on average, people who have dogs get a lot more physical activity than non-dog owners.

“It’s impossible to sit on the couch all day and also give a dog the care it needs,” says Jaeck. “Dogs need to go outside every day and require regular exercise. People may go on walks or runs that they might not otherwise.”

This doesn’t just impact adult pet parents. Studies show that teens with dogs are more active too. That can have lifelong benefits, since physically active kids are more likely to stay physically active as adults.

Interested in losing weight? While dog walking doesn’t often reach the level of intense workouts, the science suggests dogs can be helpful companions in weight-loss by providing sustained low to moderate activity.

Huge Numbers of Pet Parents Report Improved Mental Health

Mental health is one of the trickier areas to measure a dog’s impact. There’s no question that big majority of dog parents feel their dogs have a positive impact on their mental health.

A 2009 study showed that many people with a serious mental illness reported their pet experience helped contribute to their recovery. Researchers observed that dogs offered both a sense of purpose and a source of empathy.

Trained therapy dogs also show promising results. In medical settings, interactions have demonstrably helped lessen patients’ anxiety.

Yet it’s hard to say definitively whether caring for a dog lessens a person’s depression or anxiety. One study from 2022 found pet parents who have close relationships with their dogs feel more emotionally supported —but they don’t invariably see lower scores in anxiety and depression. Researchers hypothesized the cause was the simultaneous burden that dog care can place on pet parents.

Dogs Fight Loneliness, Especially Among Seniors

According to the Surgeon General, the US faces a loneliness epidemic—one that can have serious consequences for both mental and physical health. The good news is that our dogs are prepared to help. Studies show dogs offer a powerful sense of social connectedness.

A study on loneliness in older adults found that older adults with pets were 36% less likely to report loneliness than those without them.

“The relationship between a dog and a person is unique and often less complicated than the ones we have with other humans,” affirms Jaeck. “People greatly benefit from the unconditional love that dogs offer, especially if they do not experience that from the humans in their lives.”

An Australian study of urban dog parents agreed, finding that loneliness levels decreased among the study group within just three months of adopting a dog.

Some 80% of pet parents say their pets make them feel less alone, and not just by offering their own company. 54% of the respondents said having a pet helped them connect with others.

Jaeck has no trouble seeing why. “When you’re out walking your dog, you’re likely to have more social interactions, whether that’s a conversation with a fellow dog parent or a comment from a passerby,” she says. “Strangers may want to know your dog’s name or ask to say hello. People may frequent dog parks or other places where they have the opportunity to interact with fellow dog parents.”

Are There Downsides to Having a Dog?

While there are lots of benefits to dog parenthood, there’s no doubt it can also pose a burden.

First, dogs require significant time and energy, especially if you’re planning to adopt a puppy. A big support network helps, whether that’s family and friends or a group of trusted dog walkers and sitters. But no matter what, dogs almost always make life busier—and that can make caring for yourself harder.

Dogs are also expensive, costing on average $1,000–$5,225 every year. Emergency vet bills, training, and travel care can all cause that figure to skyrocket. There are things you can do to make expenses easier to manage, like a pet savings account or pet insurance. But there’s no getting around the fact that paying for a dog can be stressful.

Finally, there’s the emotional toll to consider. Caring for another creature requires deep emotional reserves, especially when things get bumpy. “When there are behavioral concerns, especially ones that can’t seem to be resolved, this can also be incredibly difficult to navigate,” says Jaeck. “If having a dog is putting incredible strain on a person’s ability to care for themselves, this may negatively impact them.”

If you’re on the fence about whether a dog is right for you, don’t panic! There are lots of ways to gather data, from volunteering in shelters to fostering a pup at home. Start small to get a feel for the both the good things and the hardships so you can make an informed decision and do what’s right for you and your future pup. We’re rooting for you!