I’ve been taking care of a beautiful dog, Bella, this summer.  Bella has helped me realize the benefits of pet therapy!  Pets can provide excellent social support, stress relief and other health benefit.  Research supports the mood-enhancing benefits of pets.

WHAT CAN YOUR DOG DO FOR YOU?

Reduce Stress

When conducting a task that’s stressful, people actually experienced less stress when their pets were with them than when a supportive friend or even their spouse was present!

Reduce Blood Pressure

in a study on pets and blood pressure, groups of hypertensive New York stockbrokers who got dogs or cats were found to have lower blood pressure and heart rates than those who didn’t get pets

Increase Exercise

Whether we walk our dogs because they need it, or are more likely to enjoy a walk when we have companionship, dog owners do spend more time walking than non-pet owners, at least if we live in an urban setting. Because exercise is good for stress management and overall health, owning a dog can be credited with increasing these benefits.

Give you More Social Support

When we’re out walking, having a dog with us can make us more approachable and give people a reason to stop and talk, thereby increasing the number of people we meet, giving us an opportunity to increase our network of friends and acquaintances, which also has great stress management benefits.

Summit Performance Consulting LLC works with exercisers of all levels to reach their potential.  We’ll help you include your dog in your exercise plans.  Call us at 561-325-8363 or email us at Info@SummitPerformanceConsulting.com to learn more.