Everyone is excited. You’ve weighed the pros and cons, and you’re almost ready to take the plunge and get a family dog. But what does this entail? Read on for a more in-depth look at how canines impact emotional health and change family dynamics for the better.
Choose a Dog for Personality, Not Breed Alone
Congratulations! You’ve made the choice to expand your family and add the coveted family dog. Whether you’re a singular unit or a large family, adopting a dog will change your life and your family dynamic forever. Make no mistake, owning a dog is a big decision, and accommodations must be made for everyone involved in the process. It’s well worth the reward.
Most people try to select the perfect dog based on their breed profile. Although breed profiles give us some insight into genetics and possible medical challenges, they are often poor indicators of individual personality because development is largely affected by environment. In other words, the quality of life you provide matters.
I have found that it is best to choose a dog based on how they will fit into your current individual circumstances, especially those you may not be able to change immediately such as your location, expendable income, indoor space, access to the outdoors, work schedules, and travel needs. Once you have that sorted out, you’re as ready as you’ll ever be.
What to Expect After Adoption
The first few days after bringing a dog home are a mix of emotions, especially for your new family member. If your dog is over 6 months old, their true personality will emerge slowly over the weeks and months to come. You may feel your dog seems different now that it’s home, more anxious, needy, jumpy, timid, or just plain weird. This doesn’t mean your dog is unhappy, he’s just trying to see how and where they fit into their new family and environment. Older dogs may have experienced trauma in the past, this too will affect the length of time required to fully adjust because dogs have good memories.
I call this the honeymoon period because it’s as awkward as it is beautiful. During this transition, you both learn and establish house rules, feeding schedules, physical and behavioral boundaries, routines, relationships, and most importantly, bonding.
Why Do People Get Dogs?
Why do people choose to get a dog? Individual reasons vary greatly, but it always boils down to one thing: the need to solve a problem. One could say the benefits begin before the family dog even enters the home. When the idea of dog ownership takes hold, it sets a series of steps in motion that can have an immediate benefit for both individuals and families.
People who are estranged from others or have a limited social circle find immediate relief through the social interactions prompted by research. Emotional support dogs help many people with depression and anxiety navigate their lives.
It can prompt motivation in persons suffering from depression, send a glimmer of hope to those feeling lonely, jump-start communication within families and provide a shared common goal. Simply having something to look forward to can be a very powerful motivator, and once your canine companion is home, these benefits only compound and expand as your dog takes its rightful place in your family unit.
Getting a Dog Enhances Your Physical and Emotional Well-being
Having a dog enhances physical and emotional well-being for individuals and families alike. Dogs need daily exercise and interaction which place human family members in the role of care providers. Even when people resist walking, running, or otherwise moving around for themselves, they will often be coaxed by the needs of their dog.
Older adults reap the benefits with reduced cognitive decline, less stress, lower blood pressure, increased mobility, and feel that their companions give them a new sense of purpose. Even seniors with heart disease appear to live longer than their pet-free counterparts.
In families with children, having a dog gets the kids out of the house and moving more often, effectively reducing obesity, improving mood disorders, and promoting heart health. Newborns and infants under one year old are less likely to develop respiratory allergies, have a lower risk of developing eczema, and have stronger immune systems when dogs are in the house from the start. Kids also show greater emotional intelligence, self-esteem, empathy, and increased positive social behaviors when they grow with canine companions.
The benefits associated with having a family dog are so extensive I could write several books and still feel like I’m coming up short. This is not to ignore some of the drawbacks, but these are usually minor inconveniences that can be easily remedied or avoided altogether.
Dogs Improve Relationships and Family Dynamics
We don’t see a lot of discussion on pets and family dynamics, perhaps because people don’t usually give credit to the addition for the changes that occur. When a new canine companion comes into your home, not only do you have a change in routine, but also in the way humans interact with each other.
For example, a single person now has their canine to consider when making life-altering decisions such as moving, going on vacation, and even when creating friendships. Dogs do help build communities, and with that come new hobbies, thoughts, ideas, and knowledge. Responsibility and accountability increase as well, and that self now becomes a plus one.
In larger families with children of all ages, a hierarchy of sorts is established, and people come together for the sake of their canine companion, often divvying up responsibilities, joining in play times, or just sharing their exciting experiences.
Dogs Are Beloved Family Additions
If you didn’t grow up with dogs, or you grew up in rural areas where they are primarily “working” animals, you may have only experienced a few of these benefits. The key component to maximizing a reciprocal relationship is to think of your pet as a family addition. Of course, we need to understand that dogs are not humans, and that is just as important for the health and safety of your canine as it is for you, but seeing them as valuable companions, friends, furry siblings, or even pseudo-children brings about the best results for everyone.
