9 scientifically proven reasons to get a dog

Loyal, ready to help and always glad to see you - yes, he is, man's best friend!

Dogs have been accompanying people for more than 18,000 years, being the first pets in history. And it's not just like that. Scientists have proven that dogs make us laugh more often than cats, make us more mobile and even reduce the chances of falling into depression. Well, if you still don't believe that a dog is a person's best friend (or you need to convince someone of this), then here are good reasons why you should have a four—legged friend.

According to one study published in the journal Society & Animals, dog owners laugh more often. The researchers interviewed dog owners, cat owners and owners of both and, after analyzing the data, came to the conclusion that owners of only dogs or both dogs and cats laugh more often than everyone else.

The dog joined man 18-32 thousand years ago, having evolved from the wolf. Wolves live in packs where the bonds between relatives are very strong. It is this behavior that makes dogs so loyal. Scientist Steven Zawistowski explains that dogs see their owners as a friend of the "pack", therefore they become attached to him as if he were his brother or sister.

In the UK, a team of scientists from the University of Liverpool and Bristol found that dog lovers have more friends than those who do not have a dog. It is logical, given that the dog will make you leave the house more often and walk in the park, where you will most likely meet other owners of four-legged pets.

Yes, dogs can protect us from diseases. Children born in a house where there is a dog have a lower risk of developing asthma and dust allergies. A study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences last year showed that babies in the house where the dog lives have developed a special group of microbes that protects against allergens. It is reported that such microbes protect the child from the development of allergies to dust.

Obesity is one of the main problems of modern society. A study by the University of Michigan found that 60% of dog owners who regularly walk their pets have a normal weight. Moreover, older people walking dogs are more mobile and physically healthy than those who just walk with a partner.

Dogs are not the best friends of cats, but, for example, earlier this year in Florida, a dog saved a cat... by blood transfusion. Some dogs have a universal blood type, like some people, so when there was no cat donor for a cat named Buttercup, veterinarians used a dog. The cat survived. Dogs also help people, of course. Specially trained dogs, for example, can smell a stroke 15 minutes before it happens and start barking to warn a person. How dogs manage to sense this is still not known. Dogs give us a sense that we are needed.

Dogs are great companions for anyone, but especially for the elderly. According to a study by the Journal of Social Psychology, older dog owners are more satisfied with their social, physical and moral condition than people of the same age without a dog.

Another study found that dogs are able to give some patients self-confidence and strength to live on.

Just by looking at your faithful four-legged friend, you will feel much better, because the hormone oxytocin will be released in your body. Dog owners are less prone to depression, less tired, have higher self-esteem and generally happy with life. So go ahead - get a dog. But remember - this is a big responsibility! You should not buy a dog if you are not ready to become her friend like she is to you.