7 Reasons To Act More Like Your Pet

Pets aren't always easy to take care of, and they often require a substantial time commitment (something you’re all too aware of at, say, 3 a.m., when Bing Clawsby is finally ready to go outside and do his business). But pets provide an amazing return on that time investment, especially when it comes to your health. Case in point: According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pet owners tend to have lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglyceride levels than non-pet owners. But that’s not all. Pets also model many surprisingly healthy behaviors that humans would do well to emulate. Here are just a few, according to veterinarians, dog trainers, and other pet experts. 

1. They focus on what matters most. You may get grumpy after a bad day at the office, but your pooch never does. “Companion animals mostly care about food, love, and shelter (not always in that order). As long as they have those things, they don’t need much else,” Mary Gardner, DVM, a veterinarian and cofounder of Lap of Love Veterinary Hospice tells Yahoo Health. “Pets also don’t complain much at all. People believe they hide their pain; I simply think they manage it differently.” If humans could model these behaviors, Gardner adds, we’d be healthier, happier, “and more people would want to be around us.” 

2. They practice portion control (even if not by choice). Snowball might not want to limit her kibble intake any more than you want to limit your tortilla-chip intake. Nonetheless, she typically eats reasonably sized helpings of nutritionally balanced food — and never gets to eat straight out of the bag. Follow her lead. “Both animals and people need structure and regulation when it comes to portion size,” says Jme Thomas, executive director of Motley Zoo Animal Rescue based in Redmond, Washington. 

3. They know how to de-stress. Your pooch doesn’t pour a glass of cabernet when the going gets rough (though, yes, it would make a very popular YouTube video if she did). She may, however, start begging for a walk or to play a game. Smart dog! “Actively seeking healthy activities — that function as de-stressors when stress levels are high — helps to reset people as well as dogs, and bring us back to a productive and functional status, from which many things feel a lot more ‘do-able,’” Marisa Scully, a certified dog behavior specialist in Philadelphia, tells Yahoo Health. 

4. They hit the hay. People don’t get enough sleep: According to a 2014 survey by the National Sleep Foundation, 45 percent of Americans said that a lack of sleep had impaired their activities at least once in the previous week. Learn from your cat or dog, who knows just how important it is to get enough shut-eye, says Jeff Werber, VVM, president and chief veterinarian of Century Veterinary Group in Los Angeles. “Whether it’s a lazy dog day afternoon, or a quick cat nap, you won’t find them burning the candles at both ends.” 

5. They stretch! There’s a reason one of the most common yoga moves is named downward dog. Dogs (and cats) stretch constantly — and we should do the same, notes certified dog behavior consultant Russell Hartstein. Why? Stretching can improve flexibility and reduce your risk of injury. 

6. They’re open to new things. Animals are naturally curious. “Open a box or empty a bag and before you know it, your cat will have climbed in to investigate. Walk your dog past a gardener planting flowers and chances are she will check it out before moving on,” Werber says. “And they’re always up for some fun. A game of catch, a walk, a visit — bring it on.” Since research has found that seeking out new experiences can keep people feeling young and healthy, we’d do well to follow suit.

7. They’re comfortable getting zen. Numerous studies have found a correlation between mindful meditation and reduced stress, decreased heart disease, and a stronger immune response — and that’s something your cat already knows how to do instinctively. “Each morning I sit on the sofa with my cat, Turtle, while I drink my first cup of coffee,” says Kristen Levine, a pet living expert. “We spend about 10 minutes together, her getting neck and head rubs, me enjoying her purring and having a few meditative moments at the start of the day.It sounds simple, and it can be, but depending on the activity, it can have a powerfully relaxing or invigorating effect for both human and critter.” 

Source: https://www.yahoo.com/health/7-health-lessons-our-pets-teach-us-112252958927.html

Meet Service Dog: Molly B.!

Here is Molly B.'s amazing story through the eyes of the ones that love her the most: her family!

Molly B., is my five year-old service dog and my best friend. I acquired her from a breeder in Upton, MA, shortly after my other dog, Buffy, passed away. Buffy, was not a service dog but a wonderful family pet and the primary reason I have a second golden retriever. The temperament of that particular breed is truly superior.

 My daughter is the one who suggested that I get a service dog. I have MS and to be honest, I never considered a service dog for myself. I spoke to several people at the VA in Bedford, MA, where I go for medical care and also with a friend of mine who runs the Kansas Specialty Dog program in Washington, Kansas. She suggested that I bring MollyB, to them for training. Molly, started her training right around the time that she turned one (about 7 in doggy years).

I never realized how much training goes into training a dog to become a service dog. Besides learning how to walk in public and having to continually ignore the reaching hands that pet her, she also has to be aware of where I am at all times. Molly, was taught to walk 3 feet in front of me, more in order to clear the way to help me avoid any mis-steps (common with MS). As we walk, she is constantly
  looking over her shoulders to see where I am. She knows her left and right and what straight means. She is completely hand command trained so no words need be spoken. When I stop she comes and stands at a forty- five degree angle in front of me between me and whomever I may be talking to.

When we are in a restaurant, she lays to the left of my feet. Molly B., knows me better than I know myself. What I mean by that is, if I am about to have an MS event, she seems to sense it about ten minutes before it hits me. While at home, she will start heading to the bedroom, which is an indication to me that I had better go lay down. Trust me, ignoring her is not the thing to do..... she becomes a persistent pest to get me to move. For example, she'll push against my legs to try to direct me down the hall to my bedroom. I've learned over time that it is better to listen, than to try to ignore her. If we are out, she will direct me to a chair where she lays at my feet until either help arrives or enough time passes and I am strong enough to continue.

 When we are home, Molly B.,has chores which she does each day; for example she picks up the dirty clothes from the floor and brings them to the laundry room and puts them in the basket to be washed. She has also been taught to bring me my medications and water, which I keep on a table by the bed. If I am in the other part of the house, she provides comfort when I don’t feel well and is always within a hands reach. Just touching her brings me tremendous comfort when I am not feeling well!

Each day Molly B., and I spend quality play time together. She runs on the treadmill when the weather keeps us closed in and cannot go out. She' ll run about a mile a day. When we are outside, she chases the ball and also enjoys swimming. I was told early on, to keep her mindset in that of being a service dog at all times. I am truly blessed with a special dog because when Molly B. sees the service dog vest come out, she immediately goes into service dog mode. We work at it every day and are very lucky to have her in our lives!