Why Pets (Especially Dogs) are Good for our Mental Health

Multiple studies show us how dogs can be good for our mental health. Jonathan Rottenberg explores how Ollie, his scruffy terrier, helped ease years of depression.

For years, I struggled with depression. I tried dozens of medications, attended countless talk therapy sessions, and tinkered with my diet and exercise. I was doing better. But I still wasn't in the clear.

There were still times when my moods would spiral and refuse to lift. I spent many hours lying in the fetal position.

Then, I found a new secret weapon against depression: a small, scruffy dog.

I had no idea a funny-looking animal could have such superpowers. But Ollie, my new BFF, helped me cover that last mile into recovery.

My dog helped me through the dark days of depression

When we decided to get Ollie, we didn't know dogs were good for mental health or could help with my depression. We'd just always wanted a dog!

As it turned out, this scruffy bundle of joy helped me to manage my depression symptoms. The main secret to his success? Dogs are good for our mental health because they often give us unconditional love.

My dog never looked down on me at my lowest points. He loved me no matter what face I presented to (or hid from) the world.

He actually loved me even more during my down days. I was usually in bed. This gave him the chance to jump up and snuggle me. He sniffed at my head or licked my face when I cried.

My dog didn't seem to mind the ugly truth. I may have been too depressed to talk to anyone or to do anything. But I was never too depressed to cuddle with Ollie.

My dog was the ultimate security blanket when things felt totally hopeless. Petting his head and listening to him breathe made me feel better.

The weirdest thing of all? I never needed to explain myself to Ollie. Yet, I felt like he understood what I was going through.

Ollie with his owners (Photo provided by Jonathan Rottenberg)

5 reasons ALL pets (not only dogs) are good for our mental health

As I recovered from depression and entered the field of psychology, I learned my experience was far from unique. And it wasn’t just Ollie or other dogs - a positive interaction with any animal can provide an instant mood boost.

There are several reasons why this may be the case. Pets can:

1. Teach us compassion and responsibility

Our pets depend on us for food, shelter, and water. Our happy, healthy pets prove we can successfully look after another living thing whenever we feel incompetent. That can give us a reason to live.

2. Decrease stress

Pets are physical creatures. It can be soothing to cuddle with a cat or dog. It distracts us from negative thoughts and feelings.

3. Encourage us to exercise

Taking a dog on a walk gets us moving. Plenty of studies have shown that exercise can help reduce depression symptoms. Walks are also a good time to collect our thoughts. They give us structure and routines if we’re feeling unmoored.

4. Give us opportunities to socialise

Positive interactions when socialising can reduce depression symptoms. Many people meet other dog owners on walks with their furry friends, spurring recognition and, eventually, increased sociability and friendship.

5. Provide consistent, positive company

Dogs are good for our mental health because they provide unconditional love. They accept us for who we are. And they’re just plain cute! Ollie boosts my mood with his silly antics.

The link between pets and our well-being

A growing chorus of research links pet ownership to better mental health. According to various studies, dogs can help both positive (hallucinations, delusions) and negative (flat affect, loss of motivation) symptoms in patients with schizophrenia.

A 2018 review of 17 studies suggested pet ownership may help with various mental health conditions. It found that pets can help distract people from upsetting symptoms such as:

• hearing voices
• having panic attacks
• urges to self-harm or suicidal ideation

The intuition that our pets can understand our feelings has surprising scientific backing.

A 2016 study found that dogs can recognise emotions in human faces.

Another 2019 paper found that dogs have developed expressive eyebrows to trigger a nurturing response from humans (though this is not true with wolves). This research makes sense.

The researchers explain that dogs evolved in close quarters with humans and were rewarded when they correctly read human behaviour and emotions.

(This skill helped them determine when the next walk or treat was coming. Remember this the next time your dog stares deeply into your eyes).

And the benefits of animal companionship aren’t purely psychological – it can positively impact our physical health, too!

The CDC says pet ownership can decrease blood pressure and lower cholesterol levels. According to PetMD, pets can even help with our heart health.

Understanding the limits of pet ownership

This all sounds amazing. Perhaps too good to be true.

While dogs are good for our mental health, they – or any other pet - can’t replace tried-and-true medical treatments for depression. It’s still essential to continue therapy and take the medications your doctor prescribes.

Commitment and expenses

Pet ownership is also a big commitment. For animals like cats and dogs, you need enough space for both of you in your home (for dogs, frequent walks and playtime can help). If you’re renting, you must check whether the landlord permits pets.

Dogs and cats also need food twice a day or more, fresh water daily, plenty of toys, and vet visits for check-ups, vaccinations, and flea treatments, plus medical attention when required. Like humans, individual pets can have specific health requirements. Some common health complaints include skin allergies, gum disease, gastric issues, arthritis, diabetes, epilepsy, thyroid problems, and so on. Some health conditions may require more frequent vet visits, which means more bills. Dogs may also need behaviour and house training, which takes time and patience.

Dogs need 1 – 3 daily walks for 20 minutes or more. You’ll need to go out more often if you don’t have a garden. Most dogs also have a “time limit” for how long they can be alone. Some can manage eight or nine hours (a working day), but others can only handle up to four. So, days out often have a time limit, with little room for spontaneous diversions.

For holidays, kennels and catteries can add significant expense to your bill if you can’t find a pet sitter that can commit for a week or two.

The takeaway

If you love dogs or cats and can’t commit to one right now, there are other ways to benefit from pet and wildlife proximity. Consider trying pet-sitting or dog walking! If that’s not an option, a solo walk in the park can often bring plenty of dogs your way.

Zoos, petting zoos, aquariums, and wildlife parks are great options for a day out.

I can't guarantee Ollie-like results if you bring a pet into your life. But if you decide a furry friend is the right fit for your life, you probably won’t regret it!

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Date of preparation: October 2024
D: COB-GB-NP-00540 (V1.0) / T: COB-GB-NP-00542 (V1.0) / M: COB-GB-NP-00541 (V1.0)