Can dogs be good for our health and wellbeing? - CrowdScience podcast, BBC World Service

CrowdScience listeners Jason and Finn in Guernsey want to know if there’s any real evidence that dogs can benefit our health and wellbeing.

Dogs have been our best animal buddy for thousands of years. They’ve helped us out in countless ways, from hunting alongside us to guiding us as service dogs. Talk to any pet owner and they’ll tell you how much joy their dog brings them. But you’ll also probably hear about vets bills, muddy footprints or chewed up slippers. There are plenty of claims about the ways in which dogs might benefit our physical and mental health, but how strong is the evidence?

Join Anand Jagatia as he enlists the help of his own pup, Stella, to explore the evidence. He uncovers the profound effects that service dogs can have on the mental health of military veterans in the US. Anand ponders the strangely unique relationship between humans and dogs and we learn about the surprising ways that growing up with a pet dog can impact your health.

0:00 Meet Maddie the school reading dog
3:24 Are dogs good for us?
6:38 Kerri Rodriguez from the University of Arizona is studying the effects dogs have on humans
8:50 What we know about dogs and our physical and mental health
10:00 Human evolution and dogs
10:45 Psychiatric service dogs for military vets with PTSD
13:37 Dogs and our immune system and their effects on allergies/asthma
17:31 The hygiene hypothesis
19:40 How CrowdScience listeners feel about dogs
21:24 How many dogs are on the planet?
22:28 Do dog owners have a blind spot when it come to negative pet behaviour?
24:06 So, overall is having a dog better for you?

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[SaBoTeUr]

I heard that dogs will show concern when their owners are hurt or distressed, so I tried crying in front of one of my dogs... she knew I was faking and walked away.
But one day, I tripped and fell for real. A different dog was with me, and he rushed over, sniffed me all over, then decided he can't do anything except stand guard until I recovered.
Then there's my other dog who rushes over whenever I sneeze. I love these creatures.

[rehamhasan]

From Syria.Thank you very match .I listen to your podcasts every single day.

[XnPJ]

Dogs are the best gift ever to human kind ❤

[danjones]

No brainer .. Yes, dogs are definitely beneficial to our overall wellbeing 🐶❤️

[cdawg_sf]

Didn’t need a podcast to conclude yes.

[vukimanh]

Don't need to watch this video, the answer is YES

[ostrogorskaya]

Dogs are best! But dogs not an instrument for people to get wellness, they of course can do that. But we should remember that dogs also have their needs and issues so humans should cover those for dogs as well.

[tt-ydxs]

I can’t live without dogs. I lost my dog four months ago, and every time I pass by a dog walking with its owner, I feel the impulse to hug and sniff the dog.

[kinjalpadalikar]

Would love it with the video! Audio alone isn’t so good!

[JT-dfmr]

I think these scientists are comparing the wrong groups: people who have dogs and those who don't. At the very least, they should also be looking at the happiness and health of people before and after owning pets. Dogs just like human kids are not for everyone. People who don't have pets probably don't need them for health and happiness; they are either not ready or not willing to devote their time to taking care of pets; or they find their happiness in other ways. But for some of us, taking care of another being, beings as wonderful as dogs, helps to give life structure and purpose, and a focus away from oneself, toward another. And studies have shown that other-orientedness is one of the keys to happiness. Dogs are a great gift to humankind !

[qyxielltube]

Why not have a online questionnaire investigation？

[FuHackers-wxlq]

Animals our sincere. They don't or can't hide how they feel. They require very little, and give you so much in return. Parents, kids and friends... Can be sometimes judgemental, angry and selfish. Sometimes these people will walk out or not have the time to be there, when you truly need them. You notice that? They're never too busy. Don't care how much money you may have. What you may look like. If you live in a mansion or a tent. Nothing matters but you! How many people in the world, can say that about the humans in their lives? They make you feel that their isn't anything better in their 🌏 Than you! People come and go, but your dogs love and attention, is yours their entire life. 🥰

[vedstudyclasses]

Why I'm not able to see visual in all videos of bbc English?

[emke]

BBC, this is the most silliest question you have ever asked. Animals don’t know evil. Don’t know racism’s. Do not judge. It’s always unconditional love no matter what. All animals are the only beings who are connected physically and mentally from birth. This is why their instincts are 100 times stronger than a human. We humans need years and years of meditation to get there. Animals have it naturally. They can sense storms coming. Signal an oncoming seizure and can even smell cancer and not to mention lower anxiety levels. Tell me which human is able to do that? We selfish humans need animals more than they need us. I abhor animal abusers.

[dova-ojkt]

The evidence Is mixed on if dog makes us happy or reduces depression? My dog has made me way more happier. Even if I fell and broke my leg on a dog walk ( not his fault, he did not pull. But it’s the hazard in snowy Sweden), he makes me focus on his mandatory walks than other things I would more stressed about. Not to mention these mandatory walks controls my diabetes.

[Pietro-thyd]

Basically, forcing ourselves to be more active without getting a dog is the healthiest solution.

[cherylcarlson]

My untrained rescue dog guards me from trespassers, took a bite from a loose pitbull for me, nudges me to eat, go to bed, walk more when it is sunny is happy to get barely out the door when it is very slippery, will play tug of war laying down because of my weakness, wakes me when neighbors set fire to their truck, understands move means getoutamyway and seldoms needs telling. But he sheds more than a sheep, chews cardboard, his vet visits have gone up to $250 a pop, baths have to be done at groomer and has declared all out war on groundhogs, stray cats, cheeky squirrels while protecting me from people who would help me up after a fall. Some days it is a flip of the coin if dogs are worth it.

[JonathanJollimore-wv]

Answer is yes they wouldn't have become our first domestic animals for no reason

[thequackashow]

When's pancake day, and what is your preference on pancakes

[MuratDagcan]

Hernandez Jeffrey Robinson Amy Taylor Charles