As we age, our lifestyles and routines change. We retire from our jobs, our children move out of our homes and our social circles may shrink. But owning a dog can ease this transition and provide seniors with a variety of benefits, from companionship to improved physical and mental health. In this post, I explore the benefits of owning a dog for seniors.
Dogs have long been “man’s best friend.” Ancient man and wild wolves were competitors for food resources and territories, but sometime between 20,000 and 40,000 years ago they formed a relationship to provide mutual hunting and herding partners. They also offered each other safety, protection and companionship. Around 7,000 years ago, dogs became trusted parts of the family and community and were treated as such. They were even buried in formal cemetery plots alongside human family members.
Today we may not need the protection from the dangers that early man faced, but we still may need the companionship that modern dogs have to offer, especially to seniors. Owning a dog has multiple social, mental and physical benefits that can improve both the quality and longevity of our lives as we age.
Social Benefits
Older adults, especially retirees, often experience social isolation and loneliness, which can lead to health problems such as high blood pressure, depression and cognitive decline (see my post on the loneliness epidemic). But owning a dog can combat this. Besides the love that dogs give unconditionally, walking your dog can provide opportunities to meet other dog owners and build new relationships. Most owners are eager to talk about their “fur babies,” which
can make it easier to reach out and connect with them.
For empty-nesters or those who have lost a loved one, owning a dog can offer constant companionship and daily interaction. Owning a dog also gives a sense of purpose and structure that may be missing after retirement. Caring for a dog requires daily feeding, exercising and providing love and affection. In addition, owning a dog requires the responsibility of basic dog obedience and veterinarian visits; some may not want to take on this responsibility, but for others it may give a sense of worthiness and being needed.
Mental Health Benefits
After I retired, I felt somewhat lost and aimless because I didn’t have the daily routine that I had when I was working and raising a family. It would have been easy to sleep in or sit in front of the TV all day. But my dog Luna wakes me up every day to go for our morning walk. And every evening we go out for another walk to calm down and relax before bedtime. In between, there are feedings, grooming and play time. Having her definitely helped me ease the transition into
retirement (especially during the pandemic), but there are other mental health benefits of owning a dog.
Stress Relief
Studies have shown that physical contact with our dogs (petting, stroking behind the ears, rubbing their bellies, and especially hugging) releases oxytocin in our brains, which helps to calm us down and makes us feel more safe. Therapy dogs are often brought in after traumatic events such as earthquakes or school shootings to calm victims. They are also used at schools and universities to relax students during finals. So hugging your dog can be a great way to reduce stress, but make sure that your dog doesn’t get stressed also. Many dogs don’t enjoy being hugged because it makes them feel trapped; a good belly rub might be a better option in this case. Just know your dog and what he or she likes best.
Depression
In a study published in the journal BMC Geriatrics, residents living in nursing homes showed reduced symptoms of depression when they were visited by dogs for as little as 5 to 10 minutes, once a week. While visiting dogs (as well as other animals such as cats, rabbits and canaries) can offer a respite from loneliness and depression, the largest benefit came from residents who brought their dogs with them when they moved into the nursing home. They regarded their dogs as one of the few constants in their lives and helped ease the transition to living in a care home. They also found it easier to make new friends and interact with the nursing staff.
Another study in the Journal of Mind and Medical Sciences concluded that “animal assisted interventions were significantly associated with reduced depressive symptoms” in homebound older dog and cat owners. But for seniors that are homebound (unable to leave the house for medical reasons), owning a cat may be a better option than a dog. The researchers speculated that this may be because cats are more independent and less physically demanding than dogs, thus providing more satisfaction and feeling of worthiness for the disabled. For physically-able seniors, however, dogs may be a better choice because of the physical activity and social connections that they want and need.
Physical Health Benefits
While owning a dog has direct mental health benefits for seniors, the physical benefits are mostly indirect, but no less impactful. Being a responsible dog owner involves regularly exercising your pet, which in turn means that you get regular exercise. Physical activity reduces the risk of many health conditions associated with aging, including Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Yet according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 40% of adults get the recommended minimum level of physical activity (30 minutes at least 5 days per week).
But walking a dog, even if it’s not your own, has been shown to be an excellent way to motivate older adults to implement and, more importantly, sustain an exercise program. In a study that measured the physical activity of patients with Type 2 diabetes, it was found that those who walked with a dog sustained their activity over the four years of the study while those who did other forms of exercise did not. While
most of the subjects had good intentions to be physically active, only the dog walkers followed through. One mentioned walking her dog despite having pain from arthritis; another walked his dog everyday despite rain, hail and even while recuperating from an operation. In contrast, those who joined a gym or started swimming quickly found excuses to quit.
Cardiovascular Disease
Another study from the journal Nature found that dog ownership reduced the risk of heart attacks and strokes as well as lowering mortality rates. The authors attributed this to several factors, including less social isolation and loneliness, improved sense of well-being and increased physical activity. These effects were strongest in those who lived alone because single people gain the largest psychological benefit from owning a dog. Moreover, single persons have been shown to walk their dogs more often and spend more time outdoors than those with families or human partners.
Interestingly, the study also analyzed the effects of different breed groups of dogs. Retrievers had the largest positive effect on lowering cardiovascular risk. I didn’t find this surprising at all. From my experience and observation, retrievers seem to be just the right combination of a good social companion and a dog that needs a good amount of outdoor physical activity.
Best Dog Breeds for Seniors
Retrievers might be the best breed of dog for your heart, but they are not the best choice for most seniors. They require lots of space, exercise and grooming. So what breeds are the most senior-friendly?
I asked my sister, professional dog-trainer Karen Karatsu Kennedy, BA, CPDT-KA, for advice on dog ownership for seniors. Here’s what she considers to be the most important criteria:
- Get a dog that is over three years old. Their personalities and energy levels are established, so you know if the dog will be a good fit for you. Small dog breeds can live up to 20 years, so a young adult dog still has lots of love to offer.
- Toy breeds such as the Maltese, Pomeranian, shi tzu or toy poodle were bred to be lower energy lap dogs. Small mixed breed dogs can also be ideal. Just remember that all dogs need regular exercise and walks to keep them healthy
and happy (just like you do!).
- Shorter hair dogs such as the pug, Boston terrier or corgi have low grooming requirements. Professional grooming can get expensive, and bathing and brushing can be difficult if you have difficulty lifting or bending.
Karen also volunteers at Family Dog Rescue in her hometown of Sonoma, CA, but there are shelters throughout the country that have wonderful dogs available. According to the ASPCA, there are around 3 million dogs in animal shelters in the United States that are up for adoption. Here is a nationwide database where you can search by ZIP code, breed, size, age and other special qualities. Adopting a dog from a shelter is much less expensive than getting a dog from breeders that often charge thousands of dollars for a puppy and rarely have adult dogs for sale.
Conclusion
For thousands of years, dog ownership has been mutually beneficial for both humans and dogs. Modern scientific research has proven this to be true. We both benefit from the love and companionship that we give each other. Our mental health and well-being are enhanced. Our physical health improves from the physical activity that we both need and crave.
Owning a dog might not be for all seniors, but it could be well worth the effort and sacrifice for some. And if you decide to save the life of a dog from an animal shelter, you just might end up saving your own. As I saw on a car bumper sticker the other day, maybe you end up asking yourself, “Who rescued who?”
