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Happiness and Dog

With the development of society and economy, having a dog becomes a common choice for many families. Dogs can always bring joy to people and lighten their lives. They can lower the stress and depression because playing with dogs increases the levels of the feel-good chemicals serotonin and dopamine in man’s brain. Also, dogs have served as man's best friends for thousands of years. They are always loyal to their owners. While taking dogs for a walk, it’s always a good time for the owner to exercise and keep healthy. Therefore, dogs can definitely make life better and help people to become happier. Having a dog is a smart choice that everyone should try.

Even though having a dog seems more beneficial, however, some people believe there are more negative effects of dogs. In “Six Reasons Why Dogs Are A Bad Idea,” Sondra Gotlieb claims “dogs dirty the house with poop or vomit, and they steal food off the counters when you are not looking”(1). She believes that dogs cause many problems and the owner has to spend time on it. Comparing to the advantages of dogs, Sondra Gotlieb feels that these negative effects drive her crazier. In “Pets and Your Health,” Karen Ravn mentions “Whether you rescue a stray kitten off the street or you spend a few thou for a Westminster-bound chow, the cost of acquiring a dog is a drop in the water bowl compared to the cost of taking good care of it through its life”(2). The cost of having dogs is high and the owner should always prepare to pay more. The cost of time and money are definitely some negative effects of having dogs. It will bring depression or anxiety to the owners. Having dogs is not only a sudden impulse but also a need for companions. Even though some people worry about these negative effects of having a dog, it is no doubt that dogs can bring happiness to people because dogs are people’s best friends and always loyal to their owners, they provide people chances to walk and communicate with others for relieving anxiety and stress, and they bring health benefits and reduce the chance of illness.

Dogs are man's best friend and always loyal to people. Dogs spend their whole life with or waiting for their owners. They always believe in people and bring happiness. When the owner is in danger, they are the first to rush to protect. In other words, dogs are the replacements of family members or friends. Sometimes, they do even better. In An Intercultural Phenomenon: Pet Dogs In Germany And The Benefits Of This Hobby, Elena Velescu claims, “The historian Wolfgang Wippermann, in his book, “The Germans and Their Dogs” says that the dog is no longer a dog since we are working assiduously at its human incarnation (Wippermann, Wolfgang, 1999)”(271). The fact is that dogs are no longer human’s pets. Dogs are people’s friends, relatives, and stars in the sky. Some families choose to have dogs rather than children. When people are getting older and children are growing up, having a dog is also a common choice. In An Intercultural Phenomenon: Pet Dogs In Germany And The Benefits Of This Hobby, Elena also mentions, “In Germany, there are persons who turn their dog into an object of veneration. A lot of dog owners transfer their life and consumption habits on their pets”(271). Owning a dog is a trend not just in Germany but all over the world. Dogs have come into people's lives and become part of their lives. There is no doubt that the companion of dogs will bring happiness to people. Therefore, having a dog is important not only because they are people’s best friends but also because they bring happiness.

Dogs provide more chances for caregivers to walk and communicate with others which can bring happiness in a novel and appropriate way. The benefits of having a dog is not only healthy habits by walking, but also the opportunities of communication. Talking with others can help people to relieve stress and increase well-being. In An Examination of the Possible Benefits for Well-Being Arising from the Social Interactions that Occur while Dog Walking, NikolinaM. Duvall Antonopoulos claims, “A sample of 987 Canadian dog walkers (18-84 years old) completed an online survey. Results of hierarchical regression analyses revealed that dog walkers who conversed with the people they encountered while dog walking were less lonely”(1). In daily life, it is important to have someone who can listen to stories. From the 21st century, social media pops up and becomes the most common way to socialize. Therefore, this is definitely a great chance to meet new people and share stories while dog walking. In An Examination of the Possible Benefits for Well-Being Arising from the Social Interactions that Occur while Dog Walking, Nikolina also mentions, “Through a participant-observation study, Messent (1983) found that when dog caregivers walked their dogs along their regular routes at their regular times, on 69% of the dog walks at least one spoken interaction occurred”(460). Based on statistical experiments and controlled variables, dogs can provide more chances and promote communication. They are not only just pets to keep the company but also help people discipline themselves and relieve stress. As a result, having a dog is necessary because it provides people more chances to communicate and relieve stress.

Dogs can bring health benefits and reduce the chance of illness. In Compatibility between Humans and Their Dogs: Benefits for Both, Mónica Teresa González-Ramírez claims, “data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of a representative sample of people living alone in the United States (n = 2474) showed that dog and cat owners had better physical health than nonowners or owners of other types of companion animals”(2). With the companionship of dogs, people’s well-being and quality of life will definitely improve. Mónica also mentions, “Another study reported that in a population with hypertension, dog owners had a lower risk of fatal cardiovascular events compared to nonowners”(2). No matter people have a lot of work to do or have conflicts with someone, dogs will always be there and relieve the stress. Based on these researches and statistical evidence, it is obvious that dogs are beneficial for the owner’s health and bring joy to people. Therefore, having a dog is definitely a smart choice for people who seek for happiness.

Dogs are the embodiment of happiness. They are people’s best friends and always loyal to their owners; they provide people chances to walk and communicate with others for relieving anxiety and stress; they bring health benefits and reduce the chance of illness. There are no reasons to feel unhappy with dogs. They are not only human companions, but also unforgettable memories in life. Dogs make people happier and light up their lives.