Understand that well-being benefits from companion animals come from specific interactions, not just ownership. Actively engage with your pet through training, exercise, and mindful presence to maximize happiness.
Use your dog’s need for walks as motivation to consistently get physical activity, even when you don’t feel like it. This ’exercise by stealth’ improves both physical and mental health, with dog owners being significantly more likely to meet exercise guidelines.
Cultivate mindfulness by observing your dog’s natural presence and intense attention to simple things. Allow your dog’s actions, like seeking attention or tactile interactions, to draw you into the present moment, rather than being distracted by devices or ruminating.
Leverage your dog as a ‘social lubricant’ to initiate conversations and interact more with strangers and your community. Striking up conversations with others is a proven way to enhance happiness and fill your ’leaky happiness tires’.
Find a sense of mastery and purpose by caring for a pet, especially when they rely on you for basic needs like feeding and walking. This can be particularly beneficial for well-being and motivation, even when struggling with mental health challenges like depression.
Provide your dog with consistent training and socialization to ensure a well-behaved companion and avoid potential misery. Engaging in training classes can also boost your self-esteem and provide mental stimulation for your dog.
Develop a deep emotional connection with your pet to support your mental health and quiet negative self-talk. This bond can provide emotional support and a sense of relief during challenging times.
Work with animals and strive to see the world from their perspective to develop empathy. This practice offers a poignant lesson in understanding creatures different from ourselves.
When feeling sad, engage in acts of kindness for others to quickly improve your mood. This behavior brings out ’the best of us’ and can create immediate positive connections.
If you don’t own a dog, ask yourself ‘What would a dog do right now?’ to inspire mindfulness, curiosity, sensory engagement, and physical activity. This ‘canine lead’ can help you adopt practices that positively affect your well-being.
When outdoors, consciously engage all your senses (sight, sound, touch, smell), following a dog’s lead, to enhance mindfulness and appreciation of your surroundings. This helps counteract being overly ‘plugged in’ and allows for mental rest.
Physically stroke a dog to reduce cardiac stress and lower blood pressure and heart rate. Research shows that interacting with a dog can have a causal effect on people’s cardiac stress.
Do not assume that getting a dog will automatically solve all your problems or guarantee happiness. Unrealistic expectations can lead to a ‘rocky ride’ and disappointment, as the benefits are often more complicated than headlines suggest.
If you live near Yale’s campus, consider signing your dog up for a visit to the Canine Cognition Center. It offers a fun experience for your pup and contributes to research on how canines think.