Introduction

Dogs and pets, in general, provide us with the much-needed companionship, affection, and protection. The companion of a dog helps you avoid the feeling of loneliness and creates a bond that eases you from the day-to-day pressures of today’s life. We all need distractions from our busy and stressful lifestyles, and what a better way to do that than to own a dog as a pet. Apart from this, dogs also provide more benefits which I will discuss later on in this article. Many owners admit that life without their dogs would be unthinkable. Dogs have so much in common with human beings. They express emotions such as fear, love, shame, rage and aggression.

 Historical background of domesticating dogs

The lineage and location of the first ever domesticated dog is still unclear and under debate. However, the impact that we have had on dogs is undeniable. Dogs and other companion pets have been part of our lives for a long time now. They were the very first pets to be domesticated and had shared a common environment with us for thousands of years.

Different dog breeds have different abilities mostly influenced by their physical state. Hunting dogs and police dogs, for instance, are stronger and athletic. It is vital therefore to take breed specialty and particular breed history into account when choosing dogs for a specific target. The more knowledge you have on your dog’s breed and behavior, the more you can do to make their training efficient.

Benefits of Domestic Dogs

• Health benefits – exercising with your dog helps both of you stay fit and healthy. Dogs have been used to help deaf people identify and react to signals and blind people as guides. Dogs also speed up the recovery of patients suffering from major illnesses.

• Psychological benefits – dogs give the owner a sense of responsibility, communication, and caring. The mutual relationship enhances qualities such as friendship and confidence which grow with time. Studies carried out by scientist have revealed that presence of dogs in our homes can lead to boosted moods, reduced stress levels, a decline in blood pressure and anxiety levels.

• Therapeutic benefits – dogs in nursing homes and hospitals assist in therapeutic sessions. Petting dogs can lead to healthy heart rate and lower blood pressure. Walking a dog also leads to more social interactions and conversations with patients apart from exercising.

• Working Dogs – Dogs have in recent times involved in activities such as detecting drugs in airports, rescue dogs, tracker dogs, cancer-detecting dogs and police dogs. They are still pets regardless of the training for specific outdoor purposes. All these specializations are crucial to our livelihoods.

• Dogs protect children from allergies and skin conditions by reducing the risk of developing eczema. Children that grow up with dogs also have a higher self-esteem.

Conclusion

As discussed above, contribution dogs make surpasses just unwavering affection and companionship. For all these benefits, it is only fair to treat them right with care and giving them a proper well-balanced diet. Understanding the purpose of domestic dogs will help you have a closer relationship with your dog.