Beat stress by spending time with your dog

Spending time with your dog is one of the best ways to beat stress, a report has claimed.

By Laura Roberts
Published: 7:30AM BST 03 Aug 2010

Man's best friend is a more effective calming tool than sitting down to watch television or uncorking a bottle of wine.

Walking the dog was also found to be a more effective means of spending quality time with the family than even mealtimes or holidays.

The survey by Mindlab International found that 55 per cent of people were more relaxed after spending time with their pets, 44 per cent were more and also less worried about problems such as job security and finacne.

One quarter of respondents described their dog as their best friend while one in six women said they confided their deepest thoughts only in their pets.

The research looked at 1,000 dog owners on behalf of the dog food maker Winalot.

Dr David Lewis, a psychologist at Mindlab, said: "Interacting with a dog is a profound and effective stress reducer. It increases feelings of contentment and relaxation."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/pets/7923468/Beat-stress-by-spending-time-with-your-dog.html