Dogs really are a woman’s best friend!

If you had a friend that was always happy to see you, made you feel more secure, encouraged you to take more exercise and reduced the amount of stress in your life, you’d probably count him as your best friend.

By all the above standards, dogs thus can be called a person’s best friend. A recent research has proven that dogs are a woman’s best friend too. In addition to the proven emotional and physical benefits of pet ownership, the research also shows that women value the sense of security provided by their dog.

Through a survey of Australian women who own dogs, it became evident that more than 80 per cent of respondents said security was one of the things they liked most about having a dog in the household.

“My Sparky (pet) will always let me know if there is someone coming to the door. He may not be a traditional guard dog but having him in the house makes me feel more secure. He is also a great little companion who is always happy to see me and join in whatever I am doing,” says Sonia Kochhar.

Research shows that among families where there is a dog, over 60 per cent of children between the ages of 10 and 12 walk their dog at least once a week. Interestingly, the proportion of girls walking dogs is somewhat higher than boys. For young mums, research has shown that having a dog in the household can help increase the self-esteem and development of their children.

There is also a greater degree of social interaction in suburbs where there are dogs, with people reporting more conversations on the street or in public areas such as parks. This can be a real benefit to women as they often report feeling isolated during the time they are at home caring for children.

Some of the other known benefits of pet ownership – that apply to both men and women – are:

• Pet owners make fewer visits to the doctors than non-pet owners
• Pet owners have lower levels of risk factors for cardiovascular disease
• Pet owners have higher rates of survival after serious illnesses and
• Pet owners experience lower levels of depression than non-pet owners

It is very important that dog ownership is a responsibility that shouldn’t be entered into on a whim. Explains Nitin Kulkarni from Pedigree, “Communicating with your dogs is like a friendship, where you have to be able to commit time and care in order for the friendship to work.

The difference is that a dog is completely dependent on you for food, shelter and companionship so it is important to make sure you are ready for this type of relationship before you go out and find your new best friend.”

By: Dr KG Umesh, Waltham Scientific Communication Manager, Mars India