7 (science backed) health lessons from dogs
In the midst of our chaotic lives it's often easy to lose sight of some of the important principles of good health. Watching our canine companions can often be helpful in reminding us of important health lessons.
Here are 7 light-hearted (but serious and science backed) health lessons from dogs.
You can eat crap sometimes and be OK. But if you eat too much of it or really bad crap then it will make you sick - it's gross what dogs eat sometimes, and some of the stuff we consume is gross too. Having a bit of that stuff is ok, but too much will make us sick (maybe long term sick rather than vomit on the carpet sick).
Prioritize sleep - as I write this our dog (Fox) is asleep. When dogs need to sleep they sleep, doesn't matter where it is (often the most inconvenient place like the doorway to the bathroom). They don't procrastinate about going to bed, and when it's time to get up they get up, have a stretch and a yawn and get going.
Hang out with mates - is a dog ever happier than when playing with another dog? Running, chasing, communicating, sniffing butt? When they haven't hung out with other dogs for a while they become a bit withdrawn, us humans are social creatures too and we need time with mates.
Set clear boundaries - if a dog doesn't like something, or someone, or another dog they will let you know. A growl, a bark, some raised hackles, stopping dead in the middle of a walk and refusing to go any further. It's not easy to get them to do something they don't want to do (at least not without some high-value treats). They are much less likely to let things impinge on their boundaries than we are.
Have a burst of activity and then a break - Fox is a greyhound so her burst of activity is frenetic. She goes hard and then once she is done she stops and recovers. She doesn't keep hammering away long after she is tired. And she doesn't usually go hard again until she has had an appropriate rest. It’s fine for us to push ourselves, but we can’t do it day in and day out forever, we need some recovery time (and I’m not just talking about the scheduled annual leave).
Get lots of hugs - hugs and pats make the tail wag and the tongue hang out. They happen regularly, they are enjoyed and they bring a smile to everyone's face (dog smiles are awesome). If a dog hasn't had enough pats they'll come up and ask for some. How often do you have a really good hug?
Have a sense of wonder - being a dog is fun. Everything they do is an opportunity to play and enjoy themselves, even the most mundane walk in the rain on the usual route turns into a great exploration. Dogs enjoy the world and the world enjoys dogs. We would do better to get out of our head sometimes and enjoy the world with the same sense of wonder dogs have.
What other lessons from dogs do you have? And how could you be more dog-like with your health?
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