Pets

Growing older is Better with a PET!

That’s according to the latest research from the University of Michigan. They did a survey, called the National Poll on Healthy Aging – aimed at people ages 50 to 80-years-old. And here’s what they found……

• No matter what type of pet someone had, the vast majority of owners said their pets boosted their mental and physical health.

• Nearly 90% of older pet owners said their animals helped them enjoy life and feel loved.

• Roughly 80% said their pets kept them active. 

• And three out of four older pet owners said their pet provided a sense of purpose. 

So were there any drawbacks to pet ownership for older folks?

The survey found that the biggest drawback was that half of older pet owners didn’t want to travel, or leave the house for very long, because of their pet. 

And 6% of pet owners said they’d fallen or injured themselves as a result of having a pet.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? We have a new puppy, Leroy the Dog. And I can already tell how much more exercise I’m getting each day.

Does your dog need a fitness tracker? They might……Because more than half of all dogs are considered overweight or obese. 

And if your dog wears a tracker, you’ll see how much activity they get in a day. And so if it’s next to nothing, you’ll know you need to do more daily walks and games of fetch. 

You can try something like FIT BARK.  The app allows you to see how many steps your pet takes, calories burned, sleep patterns and how intense or relaxed their playtime is. FitBark can also sync up with your own activity tracker – so you can see how you and your dog match up, activity-wise. You can check it out at FitBark dot com.

Another pet fitness tracker is Whistle Go . It does the same things as FitBark but it can also track your pet through GPS. 

According to animal rescue groups, dog thefts have nearly doubled.

Keep a close eye on your PETS! Because, according to animal rescue groups, dog thefts have nearly doubled. A big reason is because pet ownership has skyrocketed. And with the huge rise in demand, prices for some breeds have tripled! 

As a result, thieves are regularly stealing dogs from yards and cars. They’re even attacking owners out walking their dogs, and literally snatching the leashes from their hands. 

Younger animals are the main target, but all dogs are at risk……With thieves planning on a quick sale, or using the animal to breed puppies they can sell later on.

And even if thieves are caught, they normally don’t face jail time……Only fines. So it’s considered a low-risk, high-reward crime. So, how can you protect your pet? 

The American Kennel Club recommends getting your dog micro-chipped, and make sure your yard is secure.  

Also, never leave your dog tied up outside a store or unattended in your car, even for a few minutes. And change up your dog-walking times and routes, so thieves can’t plan ahead and wait for you.

According to the Journal of Veterinary Behavior, snuggling your dog can lead to a 166% reduction in anxiety!

But we now know your dog benefits too! In a recent study, owners either petted their dog for 3 minutes – or ignored them – and then the owners  left the room, leaving their dog alone for a while.

What they found was: The dogs whose owners had petted them remained calmer and had a lower heart rate when their owner left the room – which is an indication of reduced stress – compared to the dogs who weren’t petted.

So the journal researchers recommend that before you leave the house, give your dog some love and attention, especially a little petting.  It’ll help with separation anxiety, leaving them calmer in your absence. Just don’t make a big deal about walking out the door.

This can be tough because if your dog is like my dog, she hangs out by the door. I’ve thought about tunneling out of the house but my wife thinks I’m nuts. 

Why Dogs are the Best Sleeping Companions

If you’re a woman who wants to get better sleep – cuddle up to your dog at night, instead of your significant other! A study in the Journal of the International Society of Anthrozoology found that women who snuggle in bed with their dog get a better night’s sleep….better than if there’s another human by their side, or a cat!

The researchers found that women were disturbed less in their sleep by dogs than humans, and had stronger feelings of comfort and security.

So what about the women in the study who slept with cats? The cats were equally as disruptive as human partners, and cats were associated with weaker feelings of comfort and security than both human and dog bed-partners. 

The study also found that dog owners went to bed and woke up earlier than cat owners – and kept a more consistent sleep schedule. And we know from previous research that going to bed and waking up at the same time every day is a huge factor when it comes to overall good health and good moods. 

So, the research is clear! Dogs make the best sleeping companions!