Doggie delights good for you, too

Dogs are not only personable, they are also instant stress relievers, sometimes better than medication

By Amy O'BrianDecember 15, 2008

At this time of year -- when the workday is book-ended by dark mornings and afternoons and the rain comes hard and heavy, motivation to get outside can be hard to muster.

The instinct to cocoon grows stronger as the days grow darker, and seasonal complaints range from winter blues to holiday stress.

But rather than reaching for the egg nog or the medicine cabinet, increasing evidence shows we'd all be better off if we reached out for a leash with a dog at the end of it.

"It turns out that dogs are good for human health, both psychologically and physiologically," says Stanley Coren, a psychology professor at the University of B.C. and a renowned dog expert.

Dog ownership forces you to pull on your rain boots and step out into the cold, dark morning (or evening) with leash and poo bags in hand. Studies show dogs also have a calming, stress-reducing effect on their owners. And for children, the presence of a dog in the home can have social and physical benefits as well.

"The bottom line is that dogs are a wonderful, instant stress-releaser," says Stanley Coren, whose new book, The Modern Dog, is filled with dog-related history, anecdotes and studies.

"They work a hell of a lot better than Prozac does, and an awful lot faster."