Man's best friend
I miss my dog. I’ve been away from the ranch so much tending to my elderly father in North Carolina that when I do go home to the ranch, my dog Tulie has the tendency to greet me very enthusiastically for the first two minutes and then decides to completely ignore my presence.
While Tulie may be as aloof as a cat at times, for me, owning a dog is very rewarding. Of course, I have spoiled Tulie. She gets table scraps straight from the table, gets to lick pots and pans (makes life easier for me, the dishwasher) and she spends the night indoors.
Pet ownership may not be for everyone, but I believe that if you can afford a pet and have the time that owning a pet takes, caring for a pet is a positive, life-enriching experience with numerous health benefits. A study conducted by the AAHA (American Animal Hospital Association) found that over 90% of the pet owners surveyed indicated their awareness of the health benefits of owning a pet and acknowledged it clearly affected the quality of their daily lives. Some other important benefits include 31% improved physical fitness, 76% reduced stress levels, and 65% overall mental health improvement.
Owning pets improves my mood and helps balance my emotions. Dogs and cats, for most people, help them shift their focus and have a very calming effect. My body tends to relax with a cat purring in my lap or when Sable looks at me with those big beautiful eyes. While dogs and cats know that affection from their owners makes them feel better, giving our pets love and attention encourages positive emotions in us. Dogs also make the best of friends. They don’t ask questions or talk back, and when you want to go for a walk, they always say yes! There is something special about how you feel when a dog looks at you and wags its tail.
Whether it is taking my dog for a walk or riding one of my horses, physical exercise helps me maintain balance and stay fit. Just bending down properly to pick up a water or food bowl can be turned into a simple exercise such as practicing a squat. Standing at the sink on one leg to fill up a water bowl aids my balance. Wrestling with 50-pound feed sacks for my elderly horse and carrying cat litter from the grocery store to the car are forms of exercise.
Animals can tune into our emotions and our breathing. It was not until I developed awareness of my breath and the tension in my body that I noticed how that influenced my horse’s behavior. I know that if my horse becomes fearful of something and I remain calm, lengthening my breath and keeping my body relaxed helps the horse to calm down. If I become scared, shorten my breath, and tense my body, my horse feels that through the saddle, and it affects his behavior.
There are many studies that have shown how significantly pet ownership affects individuals. One study conducted by the US National Institute of Health showed that people who own pets visit doctors less often for simple medical conditions than those who do not. Physical and emotional recovery from surgeries and more serious illnesses was found to progress at a higher rate for pet owners than for people without pets. Blood pressure rates in humans who own pets are less likely to spike due to tension and stress, and studies have found that people who own a pet, particularly a cat, generally have lower blood pressure.
Having pets also provides entertainment, and the happiness we derive from laughter promotes our good health and emotional well-being. Whether your pets run around, play, or chase a ball, they provide entertainment. I know I spend too much time watching entertaining video clips of dogs doing some crazy things on Instagram. While I do have a few video clips of Tulie leading my old ranch horse with the lead rope in her mouth, she won’t be going viral anytime soon.
Pet ownership may not be for everyone, and there is nothing worse than someone’s abandoning a pet because they do not have the time or money to care for them. According to the ASPCA, “Pet ownership is one of the most rewarding and enriching experiences in one’s life. However, it also costs money. As much as our pets require love and patience, they also require annual visits to the vet, vaccines, grooming, food, and bedding. It is important to remember that there is more to owning a pet than the initial adoption fee and to be aware of the annual costs of pet ownership before bringing home a new furry friend.”
Still, it’s an investment that pays dividends—and you get to collect them every day and are richer for it. Feel free to share your thoughts with me: ashton@ashtoncannon.com
Ashton Graham is an educator, book publisher, photographer, cowgirl and yoga teacher. She is currently studying to become a yoga therapist and lives on a ranch in West Texas. Visit www.ashtoncannon.com to learn more.
This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Man's best friend
