Guest Blog Post: How Dogs are Helping Us Cope With the Pandemic

Written By: Dani Smith, a content creator for dogIDs. Aside from writing, you’ll find her mountain biking with her dog Crash, binge-watching her favorite series, or food prepping her next high-carb meal.

Most of us are pretty clear about the immediate joys of being a pet parent. After all, what’s not to love about them being all cute and cuddly or rough and rumbly! But during  this pandemic, a lot of us might be unaware of the physical and mental health benefits that come along with the joys of cuddling our furry friends.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), pets provide us with more than just enjoyment and unconditional love. Along with all the fun and games, pets also offer up a variety of health benefits, including:

• Lowered cholesterol levels
• Decreased blood pressure
• Decreased levels of triglycerides (a type of body fat)
• Reduced feelings of loneliness
• Increased opportunities for exercise and outdoor activities
• Improved opportunities for social connection

The pandemic took its toll on many individuals and families worldwide—job loss, health concerns, and social isolation, to name a few. With all of these going on at the same time, pet parents are turning to their animal friends for more than basic companionship and lowered blood pressure. Many people find that their pets are helping them reduce anxiety and feelings of loneliness, giving them hope during the bleakest times of their lives.

Here are the five ways your paw-mazing pets are helping you get through the loss and challenges caused by the pandemic (without you realizing it):

#1. Dogs are great listeners. Sometimes, all we need to release our stress and effectively manage our thoughts and emotions is an ear (or doggy ears) to listen. With your pup as your confidante, you’ll be able to share your secrets and troubles or just vent about a bad day without the fear of being judged. And the icing on the cake: zero unsolicited advice!

#2. Dogs are funny. Pets are effortlessly funny, constantly showcasing endless personality quirks. This is quite evident with the images and videos we all share on social media— from invading our office chairs and turning keyboards into slobbery chin rests to pups removing themselves from their last “crime scene,” while casually looking on with you as if they were never there. Our dogs have their own way of giving us a good laugh, and laughter is a great way to release happy hormones and help us remain paw-sitive in life!

Scientists and medical experts say the virus cannot be transmitted through pet-to-person contact, but extra care is still needed. If you are sick or showing COVID-19 symptoms, minimize contact with your dog as much as possible and avoid contact with others when you take them outside. If your neighbors are friendly with your pets, be sure to give them a heads up, too!

Now that you know how your four-legged friend is helping you in more ways than ever, we bet you might want to level up your paw parent game! If you’re looking for gifts for your pet to show how much you love and appreciate them, here are our suggestions:

• An extra walk around the neighborhood with friends
• A new assortment of antibacterial toys
• An easy-to-clean, waterproof dog collar, engraved with your fur baby’s name

The pandemic sure has changed our daily routines, but let’s not forget those that remain as constants in our lives: our family, friends, and of course our—canine companions, who do nothing more than love us each and every day. Let’s show them how thankful we are to have them in our lives, especially during these trying times!