Well, it all depends. It depends on several factors. The negative factors focus mainly on the potential for a dog, like any other animal, to be a source of infections and infestations detrimental to human health.
The positive benefits to human health are perceived to arise from the psychological and emotional aspects of dog ownership. The physical benefits of taking healthy exercise are well recognised.
Overall, the health benefits of dog ownership would seem to outweigh any negative aspects by a considerable margin. Scientists have always shied away from coming down firmly on one side or the other probably due to the paucity of properly controlled research. However scientific opinion does now appear to be swinging towards the positive.
Let’s take a look at those negative aspects of keeping dogs. You might get bitten. It is quite surprising how many owners each year are bitten by their dogs. Children are particularly vulnerable of course, especially small children with large dogs. Care in the choice of dog, training of both dogs and children and common sense can all help avoid such incidents. Claws can scratch too, often unintentionally. Bites and scratches can lead to serious infections and should be properly and promptly treated if they do occur.
People trip over dogs, especially small ones, remarkable often. Elderly people are particularly vulnerable to such accidents. The irony is, they are probably the people who benefit most from the companionship of a dog and are the most likely to choose a small breed.
The hazards associated with dog poo i.e. Toxocara canis, are well known and can be largely prevented by dog walkers and owners cleaning up after their charges.
Now let’s end on a positive note after all this doom and gloom! Shepherds and police dog handlers with their working companions, old people living alone with their little dogs; those who own and work with dogs gain immeasurably from dogs’ companionship loyalty and affection. The value of the companionship of dogs in assisting patients’ recovery from illness, both physical and mental has been appreciated by doctors for nearly 300 years.
Then there is the matter of physical exercise. Insufficient exercise is one of the curses of our times. People with dogs to exercise get much more exercise themselves and accordingly are less vulnerable to cardiovascular problems than others. Simply owning a dog is not enough. You only benefit if you exercise it regularly yourself. If you know you won’t have time for that, don’t get a dog!
On balance, if you use common sense and practice good hygiene, keeping a dog is good for your health. But you probably knew that anyway!
This dog friendly article has been composed by Pete Hopper, Freelance Copywriter UK
