With the New Year only a day away, you’re probably asking yourself if you should start 2023 with your very own puppy! You’ve been good all year. Christmas came and went, and no one got you a puppy. Is it time to take the plunge into puppy parenthood?
Definitely!
We’ve put together a list of the best reasons to get a puppy and make this year your best year yet!
YOU WANT A BY-YOUR-SIDE FRIEND
Nothing quite compares to the long-term companionship of having a dog, which is by far one of the best reasons to get a puppy. From the moment you take your new puppy home, you will have a by-your-side friend.
This furry friend will look out for you and be with you through thick and thin. He will never abandon you or judge you, and he will love you in sickness and in health, til death do you part! In fact, you’ll be able to count on your dog to never leave or forsake you, which is more than most Americans can say about their spouses since the divorce rate is nearly 50%
YOU WANT TO INCREASE YOUR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
If you have been flirting with the idea of getting more daily exercise but haven’t been able to make the lifestyle shift to becoming more active, a puppy can definitely give you the push you need!
One of the great things about having a puppy who will grow into a healthy dog is that your puppy will require daily walks and trips outside to go to the bathroom. This gives new puppy parents the chance to gently increase their daily physical activity. What’s great about your puppy motivating you to get moving is that you aren’t going to have to go too far beyond your comfort zone, especially if you choose the right breed. You’ll instead be pleasantly surprised that you’ll have to move throughout the day to accommodate your puppy’s needs. And this will provide you with heart healthy exercise.
YOU HAVE A LOT OF LOVE TO GIVE
Do you have a lot of love to give and no one to dote on? Pouring all of that extra love into a puppy is as good a reason as any to get yourself a little fur baby in time for the New Year! It probably won’t come as a big surprise to you that puppies require a lot of attention and can challenge the patience of their owners. The best anecdote to feeling drained by so much work is love!
When you’re fueled by love, then caring for your puppy won’t feel like work at all. You’ll be able to expend a great deal of energy and feel refreshed the entire time. If you have a lot of love to give, having a puppy can be the perfect reason to give your love away!
YOU WANT TO LOWER ANXIETY AND STRESS
Ask any dog owner and they’ll tell you, their dog keeps them calm! This isn’t all in their heads, either. Researchers at John Hopkins have determined the same thing. Petting a dog reduces stress and owning a dog decreases the stress hormone cortisol while increasing the feel-good hormone oxytocin!
In fact, an astonishing 84% of post-traumatic stress disorder patients paired with a service dog reported a significant reduction in symptoms, and 40% were able to decrease their medications, according to John Hopkins Medicine. The lowering of unhealthy blood pressure provided a boost to heart health, not to mention that having a dog provided emotional benefits, too, that alleviated loneliness and depression! Those are all great reasons to get a puppy!
YOU’RE READY TO BE MORE ATTRACTIVE
Essentially, dogs unintentionally play the role of a perfect wingman who never even needs to speak. Dog owners who share photos of themselves with their four-legged friends get more positive interaction on social and dating sites. And the phenomenon doesn’t stop there. Dog owners who take their dogs with them into public spaces online and in real life are more approachable and are often perceived as more attractive. These factors combine to help improve the social lives of dog owners both platonically and romantically.
You might be wondering how dogs accomplish this feat so easily. This social effect connects to an interesting social science finding that seems to apply to multiple animal species.
Humans are sort of hardwired to have positive emotions upon seeing the facial features of animals like dogs, especially puppies. Dogs possess what scientists call “infant schema,” which awakens the care-giving response in the human psyche. Dogs naturally bring out the best in most people.
Overall, finding the right breed of puppy to bring into your life can result in a happier, healthier, and fuller life. Sure, owning a pet isn’t always easy or inexpensive, but the benefits of pet ownership make getting a dog a worthwhile experience.
What do you think of these reasons to get a puppy? Are you persuaded to start your 2023 New Year with your very own furry friend? Petland Kansas City can help match you with the best breed to fit your lifestyle. Visit our KC Metro location in Overland Park, or check out our available puppies online to get started!