Dogs and people began living together 15,000 years ago when dogs followed people’s migration throughout East Asia. The connection was natural because both people and dogs are social beings. Neither can thrive when alone, and both benefit mentally (and often physically) from strong social bonds. Since dogs have been domesticated to a point where they need us to survive, and we tend to find that we need them almost as much, people and dogs developed a symbiotic relationship. Most dog owners will tell you that their dog is a family member. And having a faithful dog at home gives us a listening ear, a warm paw to hold, and even strong legs to run beside.
As companions, the health benefits of living with a dog have been well-documented in many scientific studies. As reported in a recent Time Magazine article , the health benefits of living with a dog include: