Most People Who Own Dogs Prefer To Hang With Them Over Other People

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According to new research, half of the American dog owners admit they would rather hang out with their pet, than out to social events.

The study consisted of 2,000 dog owners who said they skip human commitments specifically to get a bit of quality time with their furry friends.

That bond is understandable since our pets have the ability to lessen relationship stress or bad days at work. The average dog gets their owner through nearly five (4.83) stressful events every week.

Link AKC, the creators of a smart collar for dogs that pinpointed the mental, physical and emotional health bonuses of dog ownership and found many owners say their pet genuinely aided their ability to get over a breakup or handle the death of a loved one.

Six in 10 surveyed said their dog often takes care of them, reinforcing the important two-way relationship between dogs and humans.

The study found that 82 percent of dog owners noticed an improvement in their mental and emotional health thanks to their four-legged companions.

Man and woman’s best friend has proven to be a reliable shoulder to cry on during major life events. Four in 10 respondents said they leaned on their pet to get through the loss of a loved one, while another 20 percent said their dog has helped them get through a difficult breakup.

Over half of the dog owners surveyed said when their pet greets them when they come home, they are feeling extremely happy. Eighty-eight percent said their dog made them a better person.

That is not the only way our canine friends help our overall health, just the mere fact of owning a dog also motivates us to move more.

Two-thirds of the survey takers credit their dog with helping them exercise regularly. Sixty-two percent of those polled say their dog gets them out of the house two or more times a day, with 68 percent claiming to have noticed improvements to their health as a result.

“The physical benefits of dog ownership are often the first that come to mind, but we’ve found the emotional and mental health benefits of having a furry companion are just as impactful,” said Herbie Calves, Link AKC CMO. “People consider their dog’s members of their family and are looking for ways to connect and interact with them on a deeper level.”

Why should you own a dog? According to 55 percent of dog owners, “unconditional love” is the biggest benefit followed by constant companionship.

Dogs are also great listeners with eighty-one percent of responders saying they talk to their dog like they were a friend. Single responders were two times as likely to talk about relationship problems with their pooch.

Turns out there’s no better confidant than a dog while seventy-three percent said they tell the dog things they wouldn’t tell anyone else.

Another significant benefit of dog ownership is safety, with nine out of 10 respondents saying they feel safer with their dog nearby.

Seventy-eight percent of dog owners said the life decisions they make are based on their pet. Over half of them say they sometimes skip social occasions to hang out with their dog and 75 percent reported they did not like to be away from their pet at all.

Dogs aren’t the only loyal creatures, it turns out. Eighty percent said it would be a deal breaker if their romantic partner did not like their pet.

Our dogs are more than just pets, and it’s no surprise that the majority (71 percent) of dog owners surveyed said they’d be interested in a product that let them virtually check in on their dog while physically apart from them.

“Dog ownership is a great responsibility but also comes with great physical, emotional and mental benefits,” said Calves. “Our goal at Link AKC is to provide dog parents with useful, insightful information to give them peace of mind that they are doing what is best for their dog, who in exchange [does] so much for them.”

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