Tails from the trail and tips on training your human

Dogs are one of the best companions a person can have. Whether you want it to cure your loneliness or you need an entertaining distraction, a furry friend is just the pet you need. However, if you’re not someone who has a pet dog, there is still a part of you that probably melts at the sight of them. If that is the case, then you’re a dog lover.

While all these motives are compelling to keep dogs as pets, there are other reasons why humans love dogs so much. If you think about it, they offer us many benefits along with their heart-warming cuteness and love, which is an extra addition to their usefulness.

Even though some would say that having dogs as pets is difficult because of the care, energy, and money they demand, it is perfectly fine because of the selfless services dogs provide humans.

So, it isn’t that much of a deal if they demand some extra care and love. Here are eight ways they help us:

8 Dog Benefits

1) Loyal best friends

If you need someone who will not leave your side, no matter where you go, then having a dog best friend is your best bet. Unlike other pets, dogs are known for their loyalty and the unconditional love they reciprocate. Whether you come from a huge circle of family and friends or are alone with no one around you, a dog’s delightful company can make your life colorful. No attitude, no fuss, just love, and fun! Just ask dog owners if you’re in doubt!

2) Aid for people with vision loss

Perhaps one of the best dog benefits includes dogs helping people with vision loss. Such dogs are known as guide or service dogs who receive special training for this purpose. This is an excellent way to ensure that people with vision loss can live life independently with their guide dog serving as their eyes. Crossing a road, walking to school, or even working are just some of the tasks made possible thanks to service dogs.

3) Mental Health support

Many studies have shown that interaction with dogs benefits those who struggle with their mental health. One of the less apparent reasons is that having a furry friend keeps you on your toes, providing the perfect distraction you need from your stress and anxieties.

However, scientifically, studies have proven that having a pet dog can help release beta-endorphins, dopamine, and oxytocin. These hormones are important for lowering pain and reducing levels of glucocorticoid (a stress hormone). Due to these benefits, people struggling with their mental health often turn to pet-based therapies, which are far more effective than medicinal treatment.

4) Drug Sniffers

Dogs are known for their sharp sense of smell. Therefore, you may have seen dogs, such as German Shepherds and Labradors, at airports. These dogs receive training to become ‘sniffer dogs’ to sniff out items that are not allowed in-flight or on airport premises. Some items they can sniff out easily are narcotics, weapons, exotic animals, fruits, and plants.

Along with these items, they can also detect missing persons, human remains, and even fugitives. Sniffer dogs truly make detection of such items easier as no extra machinery or equipment is needed. They need some training to hone their olfactory system, making them an important part of airport security and investigations.

5) Provide Security

For the longest time, dogs have provided security to humans and their homes from external threats. So it is not surprising that open spaces such as a farm or a large estate have several security dogs. These dogs are trained to be vigilant of any unusual sound, scent, or activity. Specific dog breeds are trained specially for this purpose, which may include German Shephards, Bullmastiff, and Dobermann. Unlike other breeds, these dogs are known for their threatening and watchful nature.

6) Detect Illnesses

You may have come across articles or videos where a cat or a dog saved a person’s life by detecting an illness. Well, that is true and entirely possible. Dogs can detect several illnesses such as cancer, diabetes, and even Parkinson’s disease. This is due to their strong sense of smell which can be cultivated if trained to detect such illnesses from the beginning. One way dogs can do this is by sniffing volatile organic compounds (VOC), which is a biomarker for an emerging disease.

7) Increase Immunity

If you’re surprised to find out dogs help strengthen immunity, then believe us, we are too. We often associate allergies with having a pet dog. But studies reveal that dogs can help increase our immunity. Think of your pet dog as a probiotic that helps in nurturing healthy bacteria. Apart from this, having a pet dog keeps you healthy because of all that running and playing one has to do when entertaining a dog. As a result, it helps in physical fitness, which is one way to boost immunity.

8) Boosts mood

Ever wondered by dog owners are happy and chirpy? One reason for this is their daily interaction with a pet dog. It can instantly work as a mood booster by releasing dopamine, the hormone responsible for our happiness. As such, low levels of dopamine are responsible for feelings of depression and sadness. Conversely, a few minutes of playing, stroking, or just sleeping next to your pet can produce a spike in the hormone.

The Bottom Line

If you have a dog, then you know the list above is only part of the benefits that dogs provide humans. They are playful little pets whose benefits and usefulness are impossible to capture in a few words. However, this is not to say that the list above is not correct. These are only some of the ways humans have been benefitting from them. So, if you’re someone trying to convince a parent or significant other to keep a pet dog, show them this list.

by Maria A Davidson

We are in business to provide great products for the outdoorsy hikers, campers and their dogs; and to help clean our parks, rivers and oceans for a better planet earth for hikers and their dogs.

Parks Clean

Parks are high-traffic areas in most cities. This means that trash is bound to show up in and around your park and playground.

When discussing ways your family can help clean your local park, don’t overlook a literal cleanup! Picking up trash will make a huge difference in the appearance and vibe of your park. A clean area will encourage others to keep the park pristine. When picking up trash and debris, make sure to wear gloves to protect yourself, and put trash in appropriate receptacles or lawn bags. You can also contact your local trash company to schedule a pickup when you are finished.

Rivers Clean

The storm drain on your street collects the water from your roof, driveway, and sidewalk and funnels it directly in your local lake or river. Nutrients from grass and leaves, pet waste, and fertilizers “enrich” our lakes and streams — feeding algae blooms and harming fish. Chemicals from washing your car in the drive and household chemical spills add up, taking a nasty toll on our favorite swimming areas and fishing spots. Soil can also be picked up by runoff, reducing the clarity of water and hurting fish.

So as you prepare your lawn and garden, here are a few helpful tips to keep our lakes and rivers beautiful and safe for all of us.

Use mulch and vegetation to keep soil from washing away.
Sweep or rake grass and leaves away from street curbs.
Mulch and compost grass clippings and leaves.
Keep paved surfaces to a minimum.
Capture water runoff with a rain garden and rain barrels.
Wash your car on the grass, where the water will get filtered.
Keep chemicals away from storm drains.
Collect your pet’s waste.
Aim your rain-gutter downspouts onto grass.

Beaches Clean (do it for the ocean)

In 2007, the United States Senate and House of Representatives passed the National Clean Beaches Week Resolution to recognize the value of beaches to the American way of life and the important contributions of beaches to the economy, recreation, and natural environment of the United States.

Clean Beaches Week, celebrated annually July 1-7, offers the perfect opportunity to encourage stewardship and volunteerism along our coastlines. But where do you even begin? Follow these tips to get started.

Identify a clean-up site. Choose a place that needs some TLC, making sure that volunteers can safely access the site. Get permission, if needed, for your clean-up event, perhaps from the local parks agency.
Choose a site coordinator. (That might be you!) A beach clean-up takes a lot of work and needs an organized person to keep everything on track before, during, and after the event.
Visit the site in advance. The coordinator will need to know where to set up a volunteer check-in station, where to leave trash and recyclables, and what area(s) volunteers will clean.
Gather supplies. Depending on your location, you’ll need supplies such as trash bags, a first aid kit, hand sanitizer, wipes, and large coolers of water. You should also provide (or ask volunteers to bring) items such as reusable work/garden gloves, reusable water bottles, sunscreen, and bug spray.
Plan how to handle the recyclables. Reach out to recyclers in your area (and perhaps your community’s solid waste departments) to make arrangements for accepting any glass, plastic, and aluminum that you collect.
Line up event partners. Contact local businesses for donations of drinks, food, and supplies. Ask a local solid waste hauler to donate their services for trash removal.
Plan for handling hazardous waste. Determine how you’ll dispose of any medical and sewage waste you might find. One solution: A wide-mouth container with a tight-fitting lid, such as an empty laundry detergent bottle. Clearly label that it contains hazardous waste.
Get volunteers to help. Recruit friends, family, co-workers, and neighbors. Create an event on Facebook and ask volunteers to sign up online. This will give you an idea of how many people to expect and will help communicate event details.
Stay safe. Be prepared for a variety of health emergencies, from minor cuts and scrapes to heat stroke.
Take photos! Post pics online to share the success of your event and recognize volunteers for their hard work.