Hi, this is Callie writing. Fred’s in Philadelphia for a few days, so I’m filling in.

Here are ten ways that owning a dog can make you a healthier person:

1. Dogs need daily exercise. So if you take your dog for a walk every day, you’re getting your own needed exercise, which helps you manage your weight and stay healthy.
2. Busy people are happy people. Sure dogs take some time. But it’s good discipline to manage your time better.
3. A dog will lick your wounds and help them heal. A dog’s saliva contains some anti-septic stuff.
4. Dogs help you make friends. It’s pretty hard to take a cute dog on a walk without meeting new dogs and people. Everyone likes to stop and say “hello” to a dog. You’ll meet more people, too.
5. Dogs are good psychologists. Ever notice what good listeners they are? And don’t you feel better after telling your dog about your problems?
6. Remember, dogs are “Man’s Best Friend.” It’s healthy to have friends – people friends and dog friends.
7. Some people need to learn how to train their dog and work with it. Going to a puppy training class can be a great experience. You meet new people and dogs. And you learn a lot about dogs. And we all know that learning is healthy.
8. Who knows? Maybe someday you’ll write a book about your dog, like Fred did.
9. It’s healthy for people to have other people – or dogs – to care about. It gets them outside themselves a little.
10. Play keeps you young. Playing with a dog will help you stay “young at heart.” It’s really good for Fred to play soccer with me.
11. (For good measure) If you really “listen” to your dog and understand what it’s telling you, you can have a “meaningful relationship” with your dog. This means you’re both involved and benefiting at an emotional level. And that’s really healthy!

Until next time. Listen carefully to your dog today!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 14th, 2007 at 1:55 pm and is filed under Callie, Dog Communication, Dog Talk, Relationships, Training. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.