It’s not a pill or cleanse or even a new exercise routine. Owning a dog can seem like a lot of work but the benefits far outweigh the challenges. However, busy caregivers already are caring for so many others – can adding a dog to the list add stress or stress relief?

To celebrate National Dog Day August 26 I decided to share what my dog has taught me when it comes to wellness (August is also National Wellness Month). I hope that this gallery of 10 things I learned from my dog helps caregivers smile and find self-care ideas for their balancing act and to also realize that dog ownership is a mutually beneficial relationship. (FYI – the star of this carousel of photos is my lovable dog, Penny).

Dogs Improve Our Overall Health

We know owning a pet (especially dogs) can reduce high blood pressure, soothe our emotional turmoil and offer non-judgmental love.

The health benefits of dogs are well-researched with studies showing you improve your mental health, reduce your risk for heart disease and Alzheimer’s and feel more gratitude as a pet owner.  One study showed how dog owners walk on average 22 more minutes a day than non-dog owners and are more social as they stop to talk to others while on their walk because someone wants to pet the dog or has a dog themselves so the new friends can touch noses while the owners engage in conversation.

Researchers have also taught dogs to be our health alert system training dogs to identify when an epileptic seizure is coming on and provide comfort during the episode, help guide the blind, help calm those with PTSD, and how to even sniff cancerous tumors long before they are found in a doctor’s office. They also offer therapeutic benefit for thousands of older adults every year.

Dogs are a Parkinson’s Early Warning System

The latest research is how dogs can now identify early signs of Parkinson’s. In a recent study, scientists at the University of Bristol trained two dogs to distinguish between sebum swabs (an oily substance produced by the skin) from individuals with and without Parkinson’s disease. In a double-blind trial, the dogs demonstrated up to 80% sensitivity (how well the dogs identified people who have the condition) and up to 98% specificity (how well the dogs identified people who do not have the condition). Even more remarkable, the dogs were able to identify Parkinson’s disease in people who had other unrelated conditions. 

Man’s (and Woman’s) Best Friend

For over 30,000 years they have become our best friends and now our wellness partners.

This is why a San Francisco start-up called Loyal has raised $135 million to investigate longevity for dogs using drug therapy for metabolic and hormonal imbalances before they become diseases. The first beef-flavored pill hits the market in 2026. The company believes if they can extend a dog’s life, they can extend the human owner’s life as well.

What has your furry loved one taught you?

©2025 Sherri Snelling