This is Emma. She is a mix of a lab, English bull terrier and a pug! She has no other dog siblings but loves her family so much. Emma is a very smart dog and knows a lot of words to communicate with her owners. For example, she knows the words come, sit, roll over, shake, etc. She will only bark if she is in pain or if she hears an unusual noise. Emma gets along very well with other dogs and has a playdate every Friday! The one dog breed she does not like is corgis and her owners are not sure why. Professor Frohlich, Emma’s owner told me that she feels less stressed when Emma is around and Emma is a great companion to have.

With the recent COVID-19 pandemic, mental health is at risk due to lack of social interaction and our normal is unpredictable. It has been proven that pets, specifically dogs can help relieve depression and anxiety, lower stress levels, and improve your heart health. Studies have shown that pet owners are less likely to suffer from depression and people with pets have lower blood pressure. Playing with a dog can increase your levels of dopamine, and serotonin which help lower stress and make it easier to relax. Studies have shown that heart attack patients survive longer with pets than those without. Besides pets being helpful towards our mental health, they can also be beneficial towards our physical health. Having a dog helps increase your exercise due to walking and playing. (Robinson, 2020).

 

Source:

Robinson, L. (2020, September). The Health and Mood-Boosting Benefits of Pets – HelpGuide.org. HelpGuide. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/mood-boosting-power-of-dogs.htm