The human animal bond is a very powerful thing! We hear about the benefits to humans who own pets all the time. I know my mom says her overall health and well being is enriched by having pets. We are snugglers at our house, so there is lots of that bonding thing going on!
It is often said humans hug their dogs too much, and dogs don’t like hugs. This may be true for some dogs, but Bailie and I have been initiating hugs our entire lives. Katie doesn’t give hugs, but she does nestle in when hugged by Mom. So what are some of the benefits of the human animal bond for humans? Below is a real short list of some top benefits:
- Decreased blood pressure and heart rate
- Decreased recovery time after a heart attack
- Increased exercise having a fitness buddy which results in maintaining a healthy weight
- Decreases in depression having a companion depending on you, as well as keeping loneliness at bay
- Decreases in allergies in children with pets
- Seizure, diabetic and other detection dogs help ill people feel safe
Now we know the humans benefit a lot from having pets, but what about the pets? Sure pets get room and board, but are there any other positive effects? Humans always think their pets love and need them. They like to think they can comfort pets in anxiety situations, but are those thoughts a reality? Recently, Katie was back at the vet for a heart check. You may recall, she has been diagnosed with a tumor in her heart which is causing a rapid, AFib like heart rate. She is taking medication to help regulate her heart and it is important to check to see if it is working or not.
The vet tech put the device to measure blood pressure and heart rate on Katie’s wrist and started to get the first reading. The vet tech was a bit shocked and asked what Katie’s normal rate was as her heart rate was about double a normal rate. Mom thought for a second and said, “let me lie on the mat on the floor with Katie for a minute and let’s see if that helps”. Mom did just that, and the second reading, just a couple minutes later, was down to normal. They took readings six more times over about a ten minute time period, and all were completely normal. For us, this is proof, the human animal bond is a two way street. Not only does it benefit the human, it does in fact do the same for dogs, at least as far as cardiovascular health goes. It was amazing for Mom to experience, and it really made her feel so happy to know a snuggle or hug has such a positive effect on us pets as well as on her!
Do yourself and your pet a favor, snuggle and/or hug several times a day…at least! The human animal bond is a wonderful thing, make sure and take advantage of it! Have you experienced any miracle examples of your pets helping your health, or you helping your pet’s health? It truly is amazing!
The photos in this post were taken by Caprise Adams and Karin Newstrom, purchased by My GBGV Life. Please do not copy or use these photos without permission.
we so agree 100% Reilly isn’t a cuddler but he likes to be close by – Denny is a cuddler but only for a short time but just having them close by certainly keeps me calm.
We calm mom all the time, but it’s good to know she does really calm us too.
Second time today I’m left speechless by a beautiful post. Thank you. <3
Thank you. It was truly amazing.
I so agree with you… sometimes a dogtor should prescribe a pup instead of meds to help out humans :o) And it even works for dogs, like your Katie, that was so great what your momma did… I think LOVE can be a super treatment for humans and dogs…
Love and the bond it creates is a beautiful thing.
Katie is a spooner. She needs to be touching.
Actually, she is the least snuggly one of all. She likes to lean on humans and get a little petting here and there, but big cuddling has never been her thing. Because of that, it meant even more to Mom that her holding and snuggling with Katie decreased the heart rate.
Great story – I’ve seen the positive effects in calming Jack down too.
It’s something we rarely hear about, but it’s true. Humans are very good for pet health.
I agree completely. I think dogs benefit just as much as humans in the bond. Everyone loves a hug and snuggle.
Now that we have the proof we know it does work for sure!
What a great result with Katie. I snuggle with the mom any chance I get. I snuggle or rest my body across her lap on the sofa many times per day. In “our” bed I am usually nestled against the mom in some way. I know I need my snuggles and also she needs to have me near her. XOXO Sparkle
We are pretty close knit around here too. Katie has never been a big snuggler, which is why it meant so much to Mom to find out how much Katie really is effected by Mom’s presence and touch.
Of course it is a two way thing, and I would worry about anyone who didn’t think it was. Another fab post you guys
We always thought it was a two way deal, but the benefits to the dog are really never talked about. This vet visit was our proof.
Totally agree! An Rudy is a hugger π
Yay for hugs!
Your post made Mom cry — it’s perfect and she agrees completely. Mom knows times she has calmed down Lilly by just being with her and letting her lie on her lap. Unfortunately we are separated right now and she misses us like crazy. It’s for a good reason, but boy oh boy do we miss each other.
We never like the family unit being separated, but sometimes it is necessary. The reunion is always a great thing!
Beautiful!
Thank you.
What great story and bond! I agree completely! Leroy normally looks at me when he’s unsure of something or nervous. He seems to relax when I tell him it’s ok and rest a hand on him. π
Mom has always done that kind of thing, but to see such a drastic change in heart rate and blood pressure, really proves it works!
I’m so glad you shared this story and these beautiful pictures!
Seems all my dogs have sensed my bad days and stick a little closer to me. Except for when I fall, then they exit the area as if to say “that was not my fault!” And, when they don’t feel well they seem to appreciate being coddled a bit. When scared, I’m the first they run to, even newbie Hay-Li, especially when that terrifying thunder lurks!
Bay-Li is excellent at hugs and cuddling, Car-Li more of a lap dog, and Hay-Li (probably because humans treated her so poorly the first six years of her life), prefers cuddling with another dog, but has learned to trust. I may have a queen-sized bed, but it feels like mini-sized because almost every night I have about 12 inches and 3 dogs lined up beside me!
I think it meant even more to Mom as Katie is the least cuddly of all of us. She has always been really independent, but now Mom knows she does really enjoy and need cuddling too sometimes.
You are so right that human animal bond is so great, at least I think so do. So glad some days to come home and have a puppy or three to snuggle.
We have always known it is good for Mom, but now we know for sure it is good for us dogs too!
We agree. Furry friends put smiles on so many faces. We love to engage with senior people
Lily & Edward
We are glad Mom now knows she lifts us furry ones up too just like we do for her.
WE are so aware of the PAWer we hold fur our peeps…. we both Cuddle and Greet and Kiss our mom and Dad… OFTEN… they are MUCH BETTER OFF fur that, you know.
We know that too, but now Mom knows we need the same in return as it matters.
How wonderful to get the actual medical evidence that hugging has a calming effect for dogs as well as humans! I love this. Luke is a real snuggler, but the girls aren’t quite as much, especially Sheba. But I think I’ll continue to snuggle them anyway because it seems like they might like it more than they let on!
Katie is not the most affectionate dog, so Mom has always doubted that Katie really needed her, but we now know otherwise.
The picture of Bailie hugging on your Mom is just how sis Tiki hugs us. Willy just falls over when petted to have his belly rubbed. Tiki and Bailie are definitely two peas from the same pod.
If there were identical twins in those 14 puppies, they were Bailie and Tiki! Bailie hugs everyone and anyone, as often as she can. She also won’t stop. Mom says we’re done, and she digs her paws in and holds tighter, so they hug a bit more, and a bit more until Bailie is ready to move on. Mom loves the hugs!
Bentley LOVES to hug and insists on putting his paws around our necks for hugs. Pierre is our snuggler. I can vouch for the high quality huggles that Bailie gives! BOL!
You can call yourself a “huggle survivor”! Bailie is serious about her huggles! I love to hug too, but I have some self restraint.
Love love love this! The human animal bond is just that β a bond between humans and animals that benefits both. I love that your mom did that for Katie. Ike has a very low pulse, about 40 to 60 beats a minute, and we get that and his blood pressure measured frequently. Next time maybe I’ll try lying beside him and see what the reading is!
We expected a bit of a decline maybe, but it was huge. The bond is so healthy for humans and pets.
Those photos are precious! Rocco loves to snuggle up in my lap, or behind my back in the chair while I’m working. We both love it!
My cat Sophie likes to be behind Mom’s back when she is working.
That’s wonderful that your mom was able to help Katie’s heart rate come down. My old family dog always got scared at the vet so his heart rate would be very fast, too and he would also shed dandruff everywhere. The vets always tried to sell us skin supplements but that was the only time he did it! LOL
Some vets truly are out just for money! Mom thought it might settle Katie down a bit, but it was amazing how calm she got in just a couple minutes.
Emma – you made me tear up on a Friday afternoon, #notfair What a totally heartwarming story. Thanks so much for sharing, hugs to your mom!
We are all in this life together, and we dogs help you humans but you also help us out. Mom loves us even more now I think!
Great post, Emma! My Dachshund, Christmas, LOVES hugs! He will out of the blue put his paws up on my shoulders to ask for a hug. Of course I would never do it if he didn’t like it, but it helps him feel safe and happy.
Bailie and I are really big on hugs, we love them.
We agree about the heart rate/BP. It’s a lot more likely a vet will take a cat in the back for such vitals, and I recent;y interviewed a former AAFP board member and cat vet who vehemently opposes this. To get an accurate reading, she advises keeping the cat in the kennel, near his human, and not to do it immediately, but to let the cat settle into the new environment for 5-10 minutes first.
Excellent article!
Thank you. We went through a few vets when we moved back from Europe 8 years ago, but the ones who wouldn’t do things in front of Mom were immediately off our list. Mom wants to know what is going on, and we are all more comfortable together. That’s another reason she takes all 5 of us to the vet together for exams, so we feel more comfortable.
Such a heartwarming post, Emma!!
Smileys!
Dory, Jakey, Arty & Bilbo
I know it warmed Mom’s heart big time when it actually happened…I think she nearly overheated…or maybe it was a long hot flash???
This was a fabulous post and it was such a delight to see YOU in the photos for a change too!!! DakotasDen
Sometimes having Mom in photos in unavoidable. I don’t mind showing her now and then when it fits. Glad you enjoyed the post.
I luv hugs too, speshully when I’m feelin bad. I always get more affectionate then.
I think we all want more hugs when we don’t feel well.
Great work! Mom knows best!
She does try her best.
We know that’s true and everyone here enjoys a good snuggle!
Snuggling is the absolute best.
Love the pix! Shadow doesn’t like hugs that much, but will tolerate me giving her one once in a while. Ducky is a kissing fool; but, like Shadow, is not big on hugs. Callie and Kissy always let me hug them and they hugged me back.
Katie isn’t normally big on any form of snuggling, but it is good to know when she is upset or nervous, Mom being with her does really help her feel better.
Lovely photos. Nothing beats mummy love. Me and Nellie (and our new brother Itai) love having lots of love and attention from our mummy.
Bailie and I do too, Katie is more independent, but we now know she does truly feel better with some loving as well.
The bonding between fur-kids and ourselves is definitely a two-way street helping both parties out. α¦
This is definitely true! We always suspected it, but now we have real proof with Katie.
I love this post! LOVE IT!
I live with depression and although I’m managing well, I have my dark moments. This morning, I have having a moment and Zoey came running into the room and cuddled up with me on the sofa. I couldn’t focus on anything accept how good it felt to cuddle with her. She turned my mood around – I love dogs.
Thank you. Mom loves us too. She says we are always a reason to get up and get going in the morning. She also feels so much better now knowing how much she helps us dogs out as well. Katie has always been very independent and not much for snuggling, but we now know how much she also really needs and can use some cuddling.
Happy Sunday, Emma! We couldn’t agree more! Cuddles are the best and they heal everything!
They work both ways too and that is beautiful.
Love these pictures of your mom with each of your sisters. So special.
Thank you. We are a close knit family π
My littlest one, she is maybe a tad bigger then a chihuahua, does. She actually once threw herself against my chest to be cuddled. My other dog had just left my lap, and she came “flying” out of nowhere and landed on my chest. Hilariously enough, she also hit my hand, holding a mobile phone, with her paws at the same time and knocked it out of my hand. I guess she wanted my full attention. :oD
For us it was extra special since Katie is not one to want much attention. It really means a lot knowing how much Mom does mean to her.
Well maybe you need to come with me to my doctor’s appointments. I have the same issue as Katie when they take my BP. I always have to sit calmly for a bit so they can get a real reading….lol.
My mom had that problem last time she was at the dr too. Maybe I will have to escort her next time Good idea.