A dog for life?

With recent research* strongly indicating that owning a pet - particularly a dog - is beneficial for human physiological and psychological health you could be considering whether to invest in a pet.

This could be a good time to draw up a costs and benefits comparison chart.

After all, a dog is for life…and all of that.

After some 17 years without a dog, our household invested in a puppy just over a year ago, largely as a result of my intuitive initiative and many false promises of regular walkies from other family members.

Then, just as the sleep interference and house training was just about complete, someone else decided that some dog ‘company’ would be beneficial and so we invested in puppy number two.

And of course, just as with that halcyon image of serene siblings playing most delightfully in perfect harmony forever more…we now have two very different dogs and twice the number of pet demands.

So to the potential costs –

• Financial – food, vet bills , kennel accommodation during holidays
• Time - dogs like regular meals and exercise times
• Possible forced exercise regime – eg early morning/late night walks
• Damage – chewed shoes/furniture etc
• Noise pollution – random acts of barking for no apparent reason
• Dog odour – enough said!

And the benefits –

• Unconditional acceptance and affection– whatever time of day or however rough you might look or feel – they are always pleased to see you and they show it
• Good company guaranteed. Dogs are always up for it, whatever it is. 
• Functionality as a favourably fashionable accessory – a good looking dog can get you noticed 
• Transference of canine qualities to humans – many people assume you are a nice, approachable person when you have a friendly dog and they are then more inclined to talk to you
• Free entertainment for bored children (and parents) at weekends and in school holidays- just pick up a ball and throw it!
• A good excuse to escape a tense atmosphere at home

So now calculate using a points system, the sum of the benefits minus the costs and see what you get…

helen@formulaforchange.co.uk 


*Dr Deborah Wells, British Journal of Health Psychology, 22nd January 2007

J McNicholas and G Collis, British Journal Of Psychology, (Vol 91) February 2000 

Lynette A Hart, The Waltham Book of Human-Animal Interactions : Benefits and Responsibilities, Waltham