For many centuries, dogs have been people’s companions and pets. The role of a dog in a modern family is controversial. It is a big responsibility to keep a dog, as it demands a lot of time, financial expenses, and attention. Nevertheless, a dog can serve as a great support for people, improving their physical and emotional state, being especially useful in crisis times.
According to recent researches, dogs can be a source of social support for people who do not have an opportunity to contact with their friends and relatives or who are somehow impaired. For example, it was proved that during COVID-19 pandemic dogs helped people to stay in a better emotional state (Bowen, Bolbena & Fatio, 2021). The owners engaged in more activities with their dogs more actively, which helped them to cope with stress. Moreover, dogs help elderly people to cope with a sense of loneliness. They are especially helpful for visually impaired people, serving as companions. As Lloyd et al. (2020) put it, guide dogs increase their owners’ self-esteem, social function, and confidence. Thus, dogs prove to be helpful in difficult situations, such as lockdown, especially for elderly and visually impaired people.
Besides, dogs can increase the level of physical activity if their owners. Machová et al. (2020) have proved that dog owners’ walking time is increased compared to that of the people who do not have a dog. Dog owners have to spend a lot of time walking with their dog. It helps to reduce the risk of a wide range of health problems, such as obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and so on.
Thus, dogs serve humans as companions for a wide number of reasons. Dogs improve their owners’ physical and emotional state. Walking with the dog has a positive impact on people’s health. Besides, these animal companions are especially useful for elderly or visually impaired people. All in all, dog is a source of support for humans, which is especially important for vulnerable persons and during such hard times as pandemic.
References
Bowen, J., Bulbena, A., & Fatjo, J. (2021). The value of companion dogs as a source of social support for their owners: Findings from a pre-pandemic representative sample and a convenience sample obtained during the COVID-19 lockdown in Spain. Frontiers in Psychiatry. Web.
Machová, K., Daďová, K., Chaloupková, H. et al. (2019). Does having a pet influence the physical activity of their young female owners? BMC Public Health 19, 1672. Web.
Lloyd, J., Budge, C., La Grow, S., & Stafford, K. (2021). The end of the partnership with a guide dog: Emotional responses, effects on quality of life and relationships with subsequent dogs. Frontiers in Veterinary Science. Web.