Man's best friend" is a common name given to domestic dogs, referring to their multi-millennia-long history of close relations, loyalty, friendship, and companionship with humans. The term was first used by King Frederick II of Prussia in 1786, who said, “the only, absolute and best friend a man has, in this selfish world, the only one that will not betray or deny him, is his dog.” Through the ages, people have claimed dogs as one of their closest, and best, companions since they served the widest array of roles: protector, helper, lifesaver, and companion.
Happy International Dog Day! Today is a special day to celebrate all the dogs in the world but also to encourage the adoption of those who have not yet found a home and a family. Indeed, we often refer to dogs as “man’s best friends” because they have been for thousands of years in a very close relationship with humankind—a relationship based on loyalty, friendship, companionship, and unconditional love.
While celebrating our “best friends,” we should take a moment to remember that there is plenty of evidence demonstrating that having a dog has positive effects on mental and cardiovascular health. In the area of mental health, the companionship of a dog often induces an automatic relaxation response, reduces feelings of anxiety, and contributes to lowering the sense of loneliness.
In the area of general physical health, having a dog can help to reduce blood pressure, improve cardiovascular health, decrease the amount of medications needed, reduce physical pain, and encourage more engagement in social interactions. More specifically, for individuals with dementia, having or interacting with a dog results in several additional health benefits.
Having a dog often means moving more, such as walking and generally carrying out more physical activities. In people with dementia, it can contribute to slightly higher physical activity since they can pet the animal or go for a walk. Increasing physical activity is known to be associated with beneficial effects on brain health in general and can help in reducing the decline in memory and executive skills. Furthermore, having a dog results in a reduction in stress levels and provides emotional support in everyday life.
In addition, it has been shown that when individuals pet a dog, their bodies release endorphins and other hormones such as oxytocin, prolactin, and dopamine. In patients with dementia, interacting with a dog on a regular basis has been shown to relieve the so-called sundown syndrome, which manifests itself in increased agitation, restlessness, disorientation, and at times aggressive behavior.
Finally, having a dog can help recall memories, improve short-term memory and communication skills, enhance eating habits, and, in general, reduce loneliness. For all these things and many others that I won’t talk about due to space constraints, I wish all those who have one or more dogs a Very Happy Dog Day!
Domenico Praticò, MD, holds the position of the Scott Richards North Star Charitable Foundation Chair for Alzheimer’s Research and serves as a Professor and the Director at the Alzheimer’s Center at Temple, as well as a Professor of Pharmacology at Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University.
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