An Apple a Day...

I find a curious perplexity to the fact that every (able) household in America does not have a dog. Some may find that an oddity, however, given the innumerable ways in which dogs are of great benefit to their human counterparts, (very often even lifesaving benefit), it makes perfect sense. The pet lovers of the world have long experienced the reciprocity of ownership, however, those that have not understood that no outfit is complete without at least some dog hair are now becoming privy to the scientific evidence of health benefits that pet ownership provides. 

As the old saying goes, an apple a day keeps the doctor away, yet  unlike apples, pets provide benefits to their human counterparts mentally, socially, physically, and physiologically. Pets provide companionship. They thwart loneliness and depression, provide comfort, often a sense of security, encourage routine, and the list goes on and on.

Dogs have been domesticated for centuries and have shown to provide noteworthy advantages to their two-legged counterparts in a major way from the start. Early on, when most of mankind was still hunting for their own food, domesticated dogs assisted in the hunt success. As time passed, they also would protect their human counterparts from other predators and alarm when foes approached.

In modern times, we have come to see the significance of having dogs perform specific jobs. They safely lead the blind, alert when their epileptic human has an oncoming seizure that they are not yet aware of, and alert a parent that their diabetic child is headed for a hypoglycemic attack.  Prevention saves lives.

Dogs have been known to save lives in other ways as well. They have been known to bring humans out of comas and to aid in speedier recoveries in children undergoing cancer treatment. There are news reports centered around the dog that pulled a baby in her bassinet away from a burning fire and then woke the parents up by barking incessantly as well as yet another dog who alerted a father to a choking toddler seconds away from the infant losing consciousness. The in-tune alertness to our concerns that many canines possess is remarkable to say the least.

Dogs provide an excellent format for teaching the importance of responsibility and compassion with kids. Significant studies have also shown that babies and children that are raised in an environment with a dog are healthier than those without. The hygiene hypothesis gives partial rise to this very momentous finding.

Due to their own need for adequate nutrition, the fact that they thrive on routine, and their own exercise requirements, dogs can be the gateway to healthier habits that last. In providing important care for our canine counterparts, we often increase our social interactions with those we share common interests with, leading to healthier relationships with others.

These are only some of the countless ways that canine compadres truly prove to be man's best friend. All in all, we have a lot to thank our eager-to-please companions for. The relationship between human and canine produces a truly unique bond that cannot be replicated with any other animal on earth, which is rather remarkable given that we are much more closely related to other species.

My advice? Forget the apple. Get a dog.