The Health Benefits of Being Loved by a Dog

By Suzanne Alicie

I could begin this by saying there are many health benefits that come from owning a dog, but dog owners know that the main benefit of having a dog is being loved by him.  Unconditional, adoring, slobbery, jumping, romping love is a health benefit in itself.  There are also many other health benefits to being loved by a dog, and loving a dog as well.

Responsible pet owners know that having a dog means they are responsible for not only the food and shelter of their dog, but also for the many other aspects of his life. This leads to a healthy and regimented routine. There is a time for walking, a time for playing, a time for eating, and a time for resting. This is a healthy way to live your life because it keeps you from becoming too busy. You can’t become too unscheduled, because your dog is depending on you to be there at a certain time of day to provide food, attention and care.

Dogs are also a great way to enjoy getting your exercise. When you are outdoors running and playing with your canine friend, you don’t think of it as exercising. However, not only are you out getting fresh air, you are also raising your heart rate and often working your muscles. Regular physical activity is healthy for pet owners of all ages.

To keep your dog physically fit and active, regular play and a nutrient-rich, premium quality natural pet food such as CANIDAE All Life Stages will help him live a long and healthy life along with you. Learning more about how the food you provide for your dog can affect his energy and health may lead you to look more closely at your own diet, because it is important to your dog that you are there to age along with him.

As many studies have shown, the presence of a pet is a form of stress relief and comfort; dogs have been used as therapy companions for teens and the elderly. They provide unconditional love and attention, they are happy to romp and play, or cuddle and be petted. Our dogs help build a sense of responsibility and provide an opportunity to nurture and teach.

Loving a dog from puppyhood to adult and “senior citizen” age can help us understand and deal with the stages of life and death. As Julia Williams noted in her wonderful article, The Inexplicable Human-Animal Bond, those of us who love our pets as family can’t imagine life without them. We play with them, scold them, discipline them and talk to them, and we care for their medical needs, their grooming and their social lives. Yes, the health benefits of being loved by a dog are many, but the main benefit to being loved by a dog, is being able to return that love. 

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What Pets Teach Us about Life

By Linda Cole

For years my family and friends have teased me about my love for animals of all kinds. They've accused me of caring more about animals than I do for most people. My pets have seen me at my worst and my best, and have always been there when I needed a friend. The bond we have with pets is unique, and we know what the benefits of owning a pet are for us and children who grow up with a pet in the home. The bond we share with a pet opens our eyes and allows us to learn from them things about ourselves and life. It's been said, “The eyes are a window into the soul” and if you take the time to really gaze into your pet's eyes, you can see more than you think and learn things about yourself. What pets teach us about life isn't found in books; it's found in simple pleasures and the basic needs for life.

Pets have no concept of wealth or power, and are content to live in the moment. If you pay attention to them, they teach us lessons every day. What happened yesterday or an hour ago is forgotten and tomorrow's possibilities are wide open. If the sun isn't shining, it's OK because dancing in the rain can be just as much fun. I've learned the simple things – the freebies of life – are what make it worthwhile. Hiking with your best canine friend by your side, or sitting by a campfire under a star-filled sky away from the noise of the world helps to put things in order. Pets teach us to enjoy the little wonders in life, and that it's worthwhile to look under a bush once in awhile.

Being around dogs and cats my entire life has taught me how important it is to take a deep breath before shouting words in anger. Pets teach us how to forgive and overlook little imperfections we have a tendency to magnify. They don't hold grudges, they don't criticize or belittle, they tell no secrets, they don't judge others and they accept us for who we are – always!

My pets have taught me that responsible pet owners who truly love their pets are special souls. If we find a stray hair in our food, it's alright. A final brush before walking into work will remove most of the pet hair. We don't think about the bit of hair on a chair until after a guest sits down. We don't think twice about tossing a pet's toy off the couch after sitting on it or walking the dog when it's freezing so he can do his business. It's all part of sharing your home with a dog or cat.

Pets teach us it's not important to worry about things in life we can't change. They take it all in stride, which is a lesson worth learning and we can benefit from their innocent curiosity about everyday encounters and surprises.

I love to watch my dogs when they're outside. Their eyes steadily move from a bee on a flower to a bug crawling through the grass to a bird flying over the trees. Noses twitch from side to side as they catch a scent carried in the wind. Ears prick up and rotate back and forth until they get the perfect position for listening to a far away sound. Life shouldn't always be lived in the fast lane. Pets teach us to slow down and listen to nature's song and marvel in the beauty of all life around us, if you take the time to watch and learn.

People can have unflattering attitudes about others and misinterpret words or actions. Our pets teach us to overlook misinterpretations and find the good in others because that's what they see in us. Unconditional love shouldn't be just a pet thing. Living with pets helped me understand just how much I love all animals. I probably do prefer the company of a pet over that of a lot of people I know, because I don't have to pretend to be someone I'm not just to make someone else happy. Life is about choices, understanding, learning and giving. My pets are who I am, and I can't imagine ever being without one.

You can tell what's in a person's heart when you watch them with their pet. The responsible pet owner shares a bond that can't be broken, and you can see it in their eyes and that of their pets. Our pets appreciate the little things in life, and they teach us it's OK to roll in the grass. We just need to take the time to watch and learn from their wisdom about life.

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Eight Things Every Pet Owner Needs to Know

By Julia Williams

First of all, let me just say that what follows is not an “official” list of things pet owners need to know. I’m not a veterinarian or animal behaviorist, but I am an animal lover and lifelong pet owner, and these are my personal suggestions. Knowledge is power, and so is awareness. Both can help us take better care of our beloved pets.

Exercise is vital to a pet’s wellbeing. A body needs to move in order to stay physically fit and mentally healthy. Regular exercise burns calories, stimulates a pet’s immune system, and increases muscle mass and cardiovascular strength. Many aggression and behavioral problems in dogs can be attributed to lack of exercise. Dogs need to run and play, which helps to burn off excess energy and keep boredom at bay. Even cats are more prone to mischief if no one takes the time to play with them. Sure, some cats can be pretty lazy and may need encouragement to chase that feather toy or mouse – but they’ll live longer and happier lives, so it’s worth the effort to engage them in play.


Know what to do in case of an emergency. We should know what to do if our pet gets hit by a car, sprains or breaks their leg, cuts themselves, has a seizure, is choking, stops breathing, gets heat stroke or hypothermia, or ingests something poisonous, to name just a few. Basic pet first-aid courses are offered in just about every major city, and can literally save your pet’s life.

Training is not optional. Aggressive or unruly dogs that don’t listen to you or follow your basic commands are no fun to be around. No, they don’t need to go to obedience school for years or master every trick known to man, but a well trained dog makes life easier, and ensures that they won’t be a nuisance to your neighbors or at the dog park. Cats need training too – believe it or not, even people who adore felines don’t want to eat at a table that your cat has just been lounging on. Cats don’t belong on kitchen counters either! If you need some help training them so stay off of these “no-kitty” zones, check out this article.

Many common plants are toxic to pets. We may love the way a particular plant beautifies our home or garden, but if it’s toxic to our pets, it doesn’t belong anywhere they have access to. It might surprise you that the list of plants which are potentially toxic to pets is quite long – more than 700 plants have been identified as producing toxins that could cause harmful effects in animals, ranging from mild nausea to death. The “most poisonous” list includes lilies, azalea, cyclamen, oleander, tulips, castor bean and sago palm. Read Plants Pets Should Not Eat for more information.

Our attitudes and emotions affect our pets. Animals are adept at picking up on their owner’s mood, be it happy, sad, worried or relaxed. They know when we hurt, and they try to make it better. When we’re in good spirits, our pets are too. Because how we feel can greatly impact our pets both positively and negatively, it behooves us to choose calmness over chaos when they are around us. It may not always be easy, but we owe it to these sentient beings to try. Click here for a related article on pets and emotions.

Lock up medicines, household cleaners and automotive fluids. Responsible parents go to great lengths to keep these items safely out of reach of their children. Responsible pet owners need to do the same for their four-legged “babies.” Ingesting pain relievers, drugs, vitamins and chemical-based cleaners can lead to rapid onset of illness and even death. Be sure to keep these numbers handy in case of accidental ingestion: ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, (888) 426-4435; Animal Poison Hotline, (888) 232-8870.

Yearly wellness exams are essential. After you, your vet is the most important person in your pet’s life. Your cat or dog might appear to be perfectly healthy, but the only way to know for sure is to have them checked by a vet. Untreated dental disease can do more than give your pet bad breath; it can damage their kidneys, heart and liver. Some early signs of illness are very subtle, and many pets (especially cats) are masters at hiding illness. There is simply no substitute for a vet’s trained hands and eyes. Catching problems early will not only save you money but may also save your pet’s life.

Love works miracles. Love has the power to heal physical and emotional wounds like nothing else. The love you give to your pets is always returned, magnified to the nth degree. Dr. Karen Halligan, in her book What Every Pet Owner Should Know, writes “Loving a dog or cat is truly one of life’s most rewarding experiences. Animals can melt our hearts.” It’s true. An animal’s unconditional love can soften even the most hardened human heart.

Anatole France, novelist, satirist, playwright and poet, said it best: “Until one has loved an animal, part of one’s soul remains unawakened.”

Read more articles by Julia Williams

Humor: Eight Reasons Your Dog Adores You

By Tamara L. Waters

Your dog loves you. Better yet, he absolutely adores you. There are many reasons why he thinks you are the best, but here are eight to start with.

Your Affection

Your dog loves affection from you. Whether it's a quick scratch between the ears or a leg-thumping back or belly scratch, your dog loves you for the physical affection you give him. Keep your dog happy by bestowing plenty of affection and attention on him, and he will reward you with his adorable antics and a slimy tongue in your ear.

Those Delicious Trash Cans

You dog adores you because of the wonderfully aromatic and delicious things you keep stashed in the garbage can or trash bag, just for him! He loves that you save wonderful “treats” and make him work for them, because as we all know, the anticipation and effort to get to those trash-can treats make them even tastier.


Your Bed

Sure, you might think your dog doesn't jump up on your bed, but the truth is, when you're not looking he's making himself at home. He loves you because you tolerate his bed hopping and when he sleeps with you at night, he loves that you don't mind sleeping on a tiny sliver of the bed while he sprawls out and gets comfortable.

You Clean Up After Him

What a great thing it is to have someone who will clean up every mess you make! Most dogs are lousy housekeepers and don't do well with cleaning up after themselves. They leave their business in a pile in the yard, then simply walk away from it. What do you do? You clean it up. What's not to love?

Your Kitchen Floor

The kitchen floor is a source of great treasure and your dog loves it. Not only does he love your kitchen floor but he loves you for not cleaning it immediately. Your dog will sniff around and find all the tidbits you drop and consider them a wonderful treat. This is a give-and-take part of your relationship. You can rest assured your dog will help you clean your kitchen floor (despite the fact that he is a terrible housekeeper) as long as you continue to drop bits of food now and then. It's a win-win situation.

You Don't Mind His Snoring

Sure, you probably complain about the log sawing your spouse does, but how about your dog? Dog snoring is much more endearing than human snoring. In truth, your dog doesn't care about his own snoring, or your snoring either for that matter. He loves you for tolerating his little habits.

You Put Up with His Gas

It might be a small thing, but your dog adores you for putting up with his smelly farts. Not only do you put up with the noxious odors that come from your pooch, you actually laugh about it. “Oh man! Bowser, now why did you do that? Hahaha – oh that's awful!” If your child or spouse passed gas that peeled the skin off of your face, you wouldn't be laughing. When your dog does it, you smile, pat his head and hold your breath while telling him how special he is. He really does love you for it.

You Take Care of Him

It's a dog's life… and it's really great. Your dog doesn't have to do anything, except eat, sleep, poop, play and hang out. You even give him CANIDAE Snap Biscuit® dog treats and affection. He doesn't have to clean his room, clean up after himself, take out the trash, get a job, do homework, do laundry or anything else except just be a dog. Yep, he loves you for it!

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Do Our Pets Love Us?

Photo by Noël Zia Lee

By Julia Williams

Amazingly, there are people in this world who still believe animals are incapable of having or showing emotions. Among the doubters are scientists, non-pet people, and those who have pets but view them more as a fun accessory rather than sentient beings. It can be hard for people who’ve formed strong bonds with animals to comprehend this way of thinking, because our experiences tell a different story.

Part of the problem could be that there is no concrete way to measure love, no real “proof” of this emotion that’s one of the strongest human motivators. We can clearly see (and to an extent measure) other emotions, such as fear and anger. Love is impossible to see with the naked eye, unless you take into account the many ways we can “show” others that we love them.

Humans can say “I Love You” out loud to others, but we also express love by our actions. This might be a gentle caress of a lover’s cheek, a kiss on a child’s skinned knee, or lending a helping hand to a friend in need. Our pets can tell us they love us in nonverbal ways too. When I go to bed, Belle comes and nestles under my chin, so very close to my heart. One might say, “Well, she’s just trying to stay warm.” But she does this year round, even on hot summer nights when the room has yet to cool. 

My lap cat Mickey’s customary way to say he loves me is by giving me a little lick on my nose every so often. Rocky shows his love by giving me kitty head-butts – when I reach down to pet him, he moves his head up to meet my hand halfway. Belle also gives me kitty head-butts on my face when I’m brushing her. Does she know it pleases me greatly? Hard to say, but when I ask her for them, she nearly always complies.

When people love us, they want to be near us, and our pets are no different. I smile whenever I think about the night I was ill and couldn’t fall asleep with three cats on the bed. I would put them on the floor hoping they’d go find another place to sleep but they’d come right back up. Eventually I grabbed my pillow and a blanket, and moved to the couch to get away from them. In less than five minutes all three cats were lying next to me on the couch.

Animals also show love for humans by what they do after becoming separated from their families. Cats and dogs have traveled thousands of miles to reunite with those they love. If they were simply interested in getting fed, why not just sit down on the doorstep of the nearest house? And what of legendary dogs like Hachiko and Greyfriar’s Bobby, who showed their love and devotion long after their owners had died? Hachiko waited for his companion at the train station every night for nine years, and Greyfriar’s Bobby sat by his master’s grave for fourteen years. If that’s not love, what is it?

You can see love quite clearly in a person’s eyes when you look at them, and you can see it in your pet’s eyes too. All you have to do is look for it, and believe that what you see is real. Because it is – of this I have no doubt. I do not need to hear those three little words to know that my cats love me. Far better to see it is their eyes and in their actions, which as we all know, speak infinitely louder.

Anyone who needs to ponder the question “Do our pets love us?” for longer than a minute or two, has sadly not experienced what I see as one of life’s great joys. To love and be loved by a pet is a blessing. Tell me, how does your pet show their love for you?

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True Stories of Interspecies Animal Friendships

By Julia Williams

There are so many things about animals I love that it would be hard to pick just one thing I admire most. But when I see examples of unlikely animal friendships, particularly those of two natural born enemies, it really touches my heart. I’m convinced these incredible beings are much more evolved than most people think. Humans could learn a lot from these “animal odd couples” that play together, eat together, show affection for one another, and give and receive motherly attention. If dogs and elephants, ostriches and giraffes, hippos and tortoises, and birds and cats can get along so well, why can’t we?

While humans are busy warring with others we consider “different” than us, these animals are simply enjoying the companionship of another. They don’t consider race, or country, or religion. One could argue that animals don’t have the intellectual capacity to consider such things, and this is why these unlikely friendships can develop. I think this inability to reason might be what makes animals so special in my eyes.

Human beings think too much. If only we’d listen to our hearts instead of our heads, things would often go so much better. This is because the heart is never wrong. It never steers us down the path of war or conflict. It steers us toward love, kindness, affection and trust. I believe this is what interspecies animal friendships are all about. The cat listens to its heart, which tells it that a mouse can be its companion instead of its lunch.

Below are some of my favorite examples of interspecies animal friendships. These true stories of animals that form unlikely bonds are sure to touch your heart and make you go “awwww.”

The Dog and the Deer: this super cute video shows Buddy the black Lab playing in the yard with a white-tail deer who was found alone and malnourished when it was just a baby. Buddy’s owner bottle fed the baby deer and it bonded with the dog as well as their cats. In the video, Buddy and the deer chase each other around the yard and engage in hilarious mock sparring with their front legs. The deer is now free to wander and has been seen hanging out with his own kind, but frequently comes back to their house to play with the dog.

The Cat and the Deer video features an orange kitten licking a deer all over its face, then the two of them curl up together and fall asleep, but not before the deer gives the kitten an endearing lick on its nose. The Louis Armstrong song “What a Wonderful World” makes this footage even more charming.

Bea the Giraffe and Wilma the Ostrich live at Busch Gardens Theme Park in Tampa Bay, Florida. The park’s 65-acre Serengeti Plain is home to herds of giraffe, zebra, rhino, antelope and countless species of birds. Just as they do in the wild, the animals usually hang out with their own species. But zookeepers noticed an unusual friendship between a three-year-old giraffe and an ostrich, who seem to really adore one another. Photo by Matt Marriott / Associated Press

Owen and Mzee is the true story of an unlikely animal duo who found comfort and love in each other’s presence after the 2004 tsunami. Owen, an orphaned baby hippo who got separated from his pod, was rescued and taken to an animal sanctuary in Kenya, where he meets Mzee, a 130-year-old giant tortoise. The book, Owen & Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship shows photos of the pair eating, swimming, snuggling, and playing together. You can also see a delightful photo montage of Owen and Mzee here.

The Kitten and the Crow: a young stray kitten about four months old is videotaped for many months with its best friend and protector, a big black crow. The two saunter along side by side, they wrestle together in the grass, the crow feeds the kitten a worm (ewww), and takes care of it to make sure it survives.

Why do these unlikely animal friendships occur? I think this quote from the “kitten and the crow” video sums it up nicely: “If you are able to gain trust in someone or something, or each other, then anything is possible.” For some unknown reason, the crow had a motherly instinct. The young kitten was still a baby, and it trusted the crow, who was the only mother figure in its life. A bond developed between the two, and the rest is history. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if it could be that simple for the rest of us?

Read more articles by Julia Williams

Do Pets Forget About Us Over Time?

By Linda Cole

Sometimes, because of situations beyond our control, we have to find a pet a new home. An illness or change in jobs can force a loving owner to have to give their pet away. We develop such a close bond with our pets, we never forget them. But do pets forget about us over time? There's no shortage of stories recounting the adventures of pets who traveled hundreds of miles to find their family. When a close bond has been broken and pets have to form a new one with a new family, are we still in their mind? Do they forget about us or do they retain some memory of their old life?

My mom fought a lifelong battle with rheumatoid arthritis, and was in and out of the hospital for as long as I can remember, undergoing numerous surgeries to correct the damage caused by her disease. Complications from her last surgery kept her in the hospital far longer than expected. I was taking care of her pets at my house. As their extended stay turned into months, one of her dogs, Ben, began to mope around the house. Mom passed away in the hospital and I started the chore of bringing her belongings to my house. Ben perked up when he smelled familiar scents, and he burrowed under her bedding I had brought over to wash. He ran from room to room as if he were looking for something, and I always wondered if it was simply the smells he remembered or if he was looking for my mom. I do believe he remembered his life with her when he smelled familiar scents from his home.

We know a lot about dogs and cats, but whether pets forget about us when they go to a new home or become lost is still a mystery. But there are amazing examples of how a cat or dog walked hundreds of miles to get back home when they were lost, given away or relocated to a temporary home. A cat walked 1,000 miles through the Australian outback to return to his home after he was taken to stay temporarily with a family member while his owners were overseas. What's truly remarkable is how he knew which way to go, and that he survived in a region where many people have trouble surviving. It took him a year to cover his 1,000 mile trek home!

A well known example of a dog who refused to leave his master's side is Greyfriar's Bobby, a Skye terrier who became a fixture on his owner's grave for 14 years. Even though people in the community tried to adopt Bobby, he always ran away and returned to the cemetery.

Some pets seem to be more tuned into their owners than other pets. We know some dogs have the mental capacity of three year olds. Cats are much smarter than they're given credit for, and some dogs and cats do exhibit problem solving abilities. We can remember significant things that happened when we were three. So why should it surprise us if some pets can remember?

If pets do forget about us over time, then how do we explain the ones who crossed rivers and mountains to return to their homes? Some have even left their old home to find their owner who moved to a new location that was unfamiliar to the pet and yet, they were able to find them.

No one knows how pets are able to do this. It really is amazing how some pets are so connected with their owners that they will go in search of them. Some accounts of pets returning to their old home could be due to the pet wanting to be in familiar and comfortable territory. But that wouldn't explain why a pet would pull up roots, leaving their old home to go in search of an owner who moved hundreds of miles away or one who passed away.

Pets instinctively hide pain or injuries so they don't appear weak. Is it possible they're good at hiding their feelings as well? Love is a hard emotion to define when it comes to our pets. We love them, but do they love us in return? I think they do. Do pets forget about us over time? It probably depends on the pet. Some are willing to do whatever it takes to be with the ones they feel comfortable and safe with. Love, after all, is a comfortable and safe feeling. Maybe it's that simple for some pets – it’s a familiar bond with their human that remains no matter where we are.

Read more articles by Linda Cole