Pets always have a special in our hearts. These furry, lovable animals always have a knack for making us fall in love with them almost instantaneously. But do you know why you need to have a strong bond with your pet?
Pets Can Help Our Health
How important is it to bond with your pet? In the past decade or so, there have been numerous studies about how therapeutic it is for humans to cuddle with their pets. These studies have shown us that bonding with your dog or cat can help lower blood pressure, improve our self-esteem, help keep physically active, and even contribute to reduced levels of depression and stress. Owning a dog and cat can also help children cope with allergies and asthma better, and even the physical and psychological welfare of older people.
Pets benefit from cuddle time as well. Petting your dog or cat also lowers their blood pressure, helps calm them down, and lessens anxiety. It also releases feel-good chemicals in their brains such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine.
Bond with Them Everyday
First of all, try to get to know your pet by bonding with them every day. It helps that they connect or associate an activity with you. For instance, letting them run free in the doggie park may not exactly be the best bonding experience for both of you since you’re not exactly with them the whole time. The key is to give them your undivided attention. Something as simple as playing fetch is enough sometimes.
It also helps to know more about the breed of your dog or cat. For example, golden retrievers were originally bred to accompany hunters. Perhaps a game of fetch would be more suitable for dogs of this breed. As for our feline friends, cats tend to be choosy with whom they want to spend their time with but this doesn’t mean that they don’t like a bit of play every now and then. Entice them with a string toy to let out their predatory instinct. Be mindful of how you handle your pet too, as a gentle and soothing touch is always recommended. No one wants to be roughly handled, animals included. Dogs enjoy belly rubs and scratch behind their ears, while cats prefer their forehead to be gently stroked while looking lovingly into your eyes.