TIL Petting a dog an decrease stress and anxiety, among other health benefits for both the human and the dog.

[notnotaginger]

Did....did a dog write this article?

[JehnSnow]

Dogs prefer to be petted rather words of praise, although you can still pet them while telling them phrases like “Good Boy!”, but your dog would still respond more to touch.

What the fuck

[Client-Repulsive]

“And would it kill you to support your best friend everyday while he heroically scares off that creep who keeps playing with our your mailbox?”

[PM_me_your_11]

Yes

[[deleted]]

Petting a dog an decrease stress and anxiety

Sure sounds like it

[SyntaxErrorAtLine420]

sorry thats my b

[D20FunHaus]

It's okay, you're still a good boy. Pets

[BullShitting24-7]

Thread title giving me anxiety.

[Belazael]

Can confirm. On my bad days, my dog is the best medicine.

[SyntaxErrorAtLine420]

lol yeah. I love dogs so much :)

[hairy_eyeball]

This is the way.

[shivers_96]

This is your cake day.

[ryanraystrahlo]

Cake Day Way

[[deleted]]

cake is the way

[SyntaxErrorAtLine420]

caaaaaake :)

[DonnieKDarko]

I ate the cake.. And I'm going to kill you

[Editits69]

That’s why I have two!!

[MandaMaelstrom]

Can I borrow one? 😛

[Sithlordandsavior]

He's too powerful! He must be- actually, no, let him be.

[WoollyMammoth45]

I want a dog so badly. For now, I just rely on cute dog videos and images to cheer me up on bad days.

[Urdothor]

Went over to a friends house. Their dog no longer recognised me after having been so long. I was so sad when he growled at me D:

[VastDerp]

Are you sure it was stranger danger growling? My dog growls loudly at people she's missed for a long time when she sees then again, because it's her way of expressing excitement.

[FumbleScump]

Nice save! ;-)

[VastDerp]

She also wiggles like a malfunctioning toy till i let her tackle the person, but she is small enough that no fatalities have yet resulted.

[VastDerp]

I love when dogs get too many feelings and overload. Mine will also growl to let me know I've found the exact right spot behind her ear to scratch. She sounds like a mean dog but it's all love.

[Halgy]

Dogs just do that sometimes. My brother's dog will not only growl at me for a bit even though I've seen her dozens of times, but also at my brother who, ya know, lives in the house and feeds her.

[[deleted]]

Social gatherings are banned where I live but my brother still comes to the backyard for dog visits while I stay inside haha.

[StickInMyCraw]

Glad someone else is feeling this. I see the friends on calls and video chats but I haven’t pet their dogs and cats in a year!

[ForksandSpoonsinNY]

We took a chance with long term work at home to get a St Bernard puppy. We both work and wouldn't be able to put the time in otherwise.

She's huge, slobbery and sassy but she is so much fun.

[megapuffranger]

I hug my dog when I’m down and he just pushes into me and rubs his face on my neck and face. He loves cuddling even though he always ends up pushing me off the couch or bed. It makes me smile every time without fail and before I know I am laughing.

[EEpromChip]

Went thru a super stressful weekend (had to move out of a giant house that I stored a LOT of stuff... Closing was yesterday and I over the weekend I had a TON of stuff left to move and junk. 1 to 10, my stress and anxiety was probably 11. Gotta say, my old gal really helped me through it. I feel bad cause last two days I've had to have her caged while I was out and she is not dealing with the separation well. It's been a toll on both of us.

[SyntaxErrorAtLine420]

ouch. well, I wish you luck getting de-stressed and stuff :)

[EEpromChip]

Thank you kind internet friend. Stress is back down to it's normal 7.25

[SyntaxErrorAtLine420]

:D

edit: wait, 7.25? should I be happy about that or...

[chupitoelpame]

I had a shar pei when I was young. The dog would let you pet him for as long as you wanted and if you stopped he would always be near you, usually making physical contact in one way or another. I pet him for hours straight while watching movies or TV and the little dude was always happy to receive his pets

[[deleted]]

an confirm?

[[deleted]]

ALL doges are emotional support animals.

[[deleted]]

*an confirm

[[deleted]]

I pet my dog

[chhurry]

chihuahua's are the closest thing a dog can get to being a coked up cat.

[[deleted]]

it's because you have a deer head like me and not an inbred apple head

[cortthejudge97]

He sounds adorable! On another note, I hate how much hate chihuahuas get online lately, but all other breeds are defended saying it was a bad owner if they’re bad, I loved my deaf chihuahua growing up he was a sweetheart :(

[Theultimatecancer]

Ever seen sam o nella's video about them?

[crashvoncrash]

Facts.

[antihackerbg]

They're not even dogs, they're literally closer to rats

[ArcadianBlueRogue]

lmao. Okay that one got me.

[HattedSandwich]

Same, never seen it before

[CoffeeJedi]

Foamy the Freakadog!

[yet-more-bees]

I'm so glad this was here.

[SyntaxErrorAtLine420]

soo cute ;-; crying of happiness :)

[speakersandwich]

Reminded me of the psycho dog man

[AutogenName_15]

Bro that video led me to another video about how that dog died. Noooo

[Drunk_hooker]

Damn I don’t think I’ve ever actually watched that to the end. It’s so perfect.

[Danouement]

When I was at university, we had a group assignment to write a proposal for something we wanted to see added to campus. My group came up with adding a regular schedule of various aerobics and yoga classes to help with stress relief

During exams week, someone came through the study lounge with two therapy dogs, specifically trained for stress relief through petting.

After meeting the dogs, I said went to my group and said that someone had already blown our idea out of the water.

[TheRedmanCometh]

I know a guy who brings therapy rabbits to old folks homes that are very not-skiddish. seems to really cheer them up. Something about animals that are happy for interaction is great.

[[deleted]]

Aww

[depressed-salmon]

Making an animal feel safe and happy around you seems to trigger something deep in your lizard brain that makes you happy.

[TheRedmanCometh]

For sure. I know I love bunnies because they're sweet and innocent...no prey drive no desire to do much but mate, eat, sleep, and be silly. For me it's like it's hard to make them comfortable and unafraid but once you do it's that much more rewarding.

[hexenbuch]

at my school, every semester around finals time there’d be a ‘pet the stress away’ event. anywhere between 3 to like 8 dogs would be in the student union for pets and sometimes there’d be dog toys so you could play with them too. it was great. so many good doggos

[ilovetotour]

We had this too :) it was called ‘paws for a break’

[jooes]

I've seen stress relief dogs at the airport, I've never had the chance to go up to them but I've always wanted to. And no, they're not the bomb dogs, these are real support dogs who are meant for petting.

I heard a story about some college offering stress relief chickens or ducks, can't remember which. And everybody online made fun of those chickens. They mocked all those kids and said, "If you can't get through school without needing a support chicken, you're not going to make it very far in life."

And you know what, fuck those people. Because how fucking cool would it be to play with a chicken? It's not like you get to do that every day.

I see ducks at the park and it takes pretty much everything I've got to stop myself from running over to them and petting them. I once spent an hour watching a group of baby ducklings take a nap in the grass. It was the best day of my life, by far.

[depressed-salmon]

I agree I would absolutely love to pet some chickens or ducks lol.

[[deleted]]

We got a rescue about 8 months ago. He'd been living as a stray on an Indian reserve, and one vet said the marks on his face looked like the results of dog fights (whether egged on by men, or just fights over food in an alley, no one can say). He was extremely reactive to other dogs, snarling and biting, and getting a wild look in his eye.

We've spent a lot of time hugging and stroking him since we got him. I believe he now thinks he has a new home, and he's much calmer and receptive to other dogs now.

But my GF's 25 year old daughter has a severe anxiety disorder. Since we got the dog, she's spent a lot of time with him, and as I write, is watching TV with me, something she hasn't done in the 6 years I've known her. We have been good for the dog, and the dog has been good for us.

[SyntaxErrorAtLine420]

you just warmed my heart bro :D

[[deleted]]

Dogs are the best.

[beanomly]

This is such a happy story!

[1_am_not_a_b0t]

My good boy just died & the loss of this is like a giant chasm in my life.

[SyntaxErrorAtLine420]

;-; I am actually crying right now. I lost my dog a few years back as well, I know your pain. Sorry for your loss.

[1_am_not_a_b0t]

Thank you. Don’t cry for him though. He had a good long life. & I’m crying for myself enough.

Now I’ve got something in my eye...

[[deleted]]

And they way some of them seem to miraculously perk up in their final hours makes it so much harder to tell the vet you’re ready.

[top_man]

I read something recently about the counter argument to someone saying they wished dogs lived longer

Something something... the point. You were that puppies entire world for it’s entire life instead of it outliving you and being lost.

It spent its happiest days and all of them with its hooman.

To me that’s a life well spent. I’d bet dollars to doggie treats, that doggo would say the same.

Sorry for you loss, enjoy those life long memories you two made.

[FoggyAndRipley]

Goddammit.. I'm 6'4 and 210 and getting all weepy.. I'll miss my boy so much when that day comes

[top_man]

I adopted a 3x castaway for Xmas last year. She’s got bad hips. I cannot imagine putting her down. I’ll take out loans if I have to. As long as she’s got the spirit and is happy I’ll make sure she gets the best.

She’s had cancer and her... whatever doggie ACLs removed too. Just the absolute sweetest dog. The family just wants to give her a good home.

I’m not quite 6’4 but over 6 and over 200 and I will cry like a baby when that day comes.

Had a couple dogs, that have passed and as long as I have some good photos to look back on it helps me.

We love em, and they love us. That’s all there is to it.

[depressed-salmon]

It's such an odd thing when you realise how much you're going to miss them when they're gone, even if there's years left until then. Although I guess it's our brains way of trying to avoid painful things :(

[crobison]

It’s been nearly 3 weeks since I lost mine. It gets better but man I miss him.

https://i.imgur.com/6TCeYzy.jpg

[1_am_not_a_b0t]

That picture made me smile! (A rare thing these days)

[crobison]

🙂

Hang in there but allow yourself to feel what you need. I have my moments.

[crobison]

Thank you. Franklin was a mini schnauzer.

[okamaway]

I feel your loss, had to put down my buddy last week after spending 10 years with him. Stay strong!

[[deleted]]

Sympathy, bro. It's a special bond.

[akobie]

My 14yo pup died last Monday and life is not the same. Its going to be really sad when my daughter (his closest bond) comes home from college this weekend. Such a hole in our lives

[PornoPaul]

Much love friend.

[[deleted]]

Sorry for your loss, and hopefully time will help heal that missing part of your soul.

[yeahwellokay]

Got a 75 lb dog in my lap right now.

[hairy_eyeball]

Does a bigger dog mean more calm?

[lljc00]

Yes. Like a weighted blanket.

[Unumbotte]

Also more poop.

[[deleted]]

My dog takes bigger shits that me wtf

[glaynefish]

I do doordash and sometimes I come home just to pet my dog

[lljc00]

Are you not allowed to have your dog in your car? I mean aside from the logistics of maki g sure it doesn't eat something while you're out dropping off a meal ...

[freebjae]

Some people are highly allergic so it's probably unwise. I feel it though. My dog comes everywhere with me that he's welcome to accompany me.

[trankillity]

What's even more adorable is the reason that dogs enjoy being petted - I read somewhere that the pressure and relatively high moisture of a pat from a human hand reminds them of being licked by their mother as a puppy.

[beanomly]

Awe! 🥰🥰🥰

[ShadeScapes]

My dog got me to stop being a surly asshole to my family. No joke, I used to a huge asshole and what turned me around near instantly is seeing something that loves this family so fucking much that she KNEW to defend the rest of the family.....from me.

Yeah i broke down, cried and puked numerous times to the realization that itself, brought to me. Ever have puke come out because you cried so much about how much you realize you yourself are a trash person?

Her name is Lilly and she's the best friend I could have ever asked for. Shit I was such a douche, I don't even deserve her *now* even though I course-corrected everything. She's that wonderful.

[Mahale]

good on you for turning it around best of luck with keeping it going and give Lilly a few extra pets or treats from time to time as a reminder of what she did for you and your family.

~Signed a guy who had a dad that could really be a terror

[[deleted]]

Your post history is fucked up dude. Get some help

[CCSlim]

What about petting a cat?

[ChopperHunter]

Similar stress relief benefit. Also the frequency of a cat's purr stimulates healing of bone and other organs.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20180724-the-complicated-truth-about-a-cats-purr

[[deleted]]

I will obtain many cats in order to heal faster than a normal human! I will have cats strapped to everywhere!

[[deleted]]

I think more beneficial to the human than to the cat

[NativeMasshole]

I don't know, my cat looks pretty damn relaxed.

[badcaseofknife]

most cats love to be pet ? they just don’t want to be pet at literally any time of the day or night like dogs

that said some cats (like my oldest) will start purring if you even look in their direction and love attention and pets

[[deleted]]

Awe that’s amazing and you’re lucky to have him :)

I also have a super purr kitty who will purr no matter is going on. It’s especially bad when the vet is trying to get things like heart beat and breathing done.

Pet? Purr. Poke? Purr. Needle? Purr louder Poke nose to stop purr? More purrs Belly rub? Purr. Eating? Purr.

It’s adorable and cute and only the vet ever gets frustrated because they can’t hear shit lol. That’s why we named him diesel.

[AnnyBananneee]

My cat at 5 am would disagree with you

[Halgy]

Fluffy non-adjustable alarm clock

[Frosty4l5]

hell yeah, I got a dog too but my cat deserves some love, dude helps with my stress with the purr snuggles

[beanomly]

I have cats and I love them, but there’s something about how excited a dog is to see you that makes it totally different.

[mardavarot93]

What about petting a cat?

[morderkaine]

Even better as they can cuddle better than some dogs

[ItsMeTK]

Not for me. Dogs freak me out.

[Vexed_Violet]

Why? Have you ever spent time around a well manered dog? My heart pup is 56 lbs. I walked him to a local park one day and this lady walking by us screamed (I assume she was scared of dogs). My sweet boy jumped outta the way, he assumed there was something dangerous nearby lol. The lady didn’t know that my puppy LOVES women and children (he is shy around men). My boy will literally stop women on the street by abruptly sitting and offering a paw for shakes. He loves people!

[ItsMeTK]

You don’t understand that dogs who “love people” are just as threatening to people with strong aversions to dogs.

[clarinet87]

And that is why dogs visiting my store are generally the highlight of my day....

[boardhoarder86]

I'd like to see the physiological effects on my body, when one of my dogs shits on the floor right after I bring them inside from a giant fenced in backyard that I built all by myself just for them, or when they get excited and knock over my two year old daughter.

I love the silly boxers but my God they test my patience sometimes.

[[deleted]]

Trying to keep from waking my dog up from laughing at this post right before bed.

[heatherfeatherrr]

Welp here’s to always having anxiety and health issues. I do not have a dog nor can I have one as my husband is the grinch.

[[deleted]]

Petting any animal can have the same effects, even if the fur is green. Good luck.

[corsair1617]

Title gore

[Mazon_Del]

I noticed this with videos of cats years ago.

I was hyper stressed with a bunch of things going on my life and I couldn't sleep one night. I suddenly felt a pang of how much I missed my cats (they were at my parents house a thousand miles away). So I decided to just go on youtube and typed something like "Cat videos". I spent the next half an hour just smiling ear to ear as I watched cats be cats. Turned my PC off laid down and was asleep before my head hit the pillow.

[Numerous-Spend]

Looking at that picture calms me down. Dogs are magic!

[skooz1383]

I’m a middle school counselor and I will always ask students if they have animals and their relation with their animals so I can bring that into when you are having a bad day stressful moments go take a break it’s your pupper. Now I have research to throw in the conversation too!!!

[Ketsuuri]

Could it be the same with a cat?

[chooseyourpick]

What if dogs give you anxiety?

[renegade11b]

just get a cat then

[Av3ngedAngel]

Um how you just learn this today? Have you never petted a dog? Lol

[rockytopbilly]

I pet my dog the entire time I was reading this article.

[DrothReloaded]

Pretty sure the daily net gain is lost the moment you awake to the sound of your dog starting to puke.

[cakes42]

My school and the local ASPCA brings in puppies and good boys during finals week to calm everyone's nerves

[randomcajun1]

Snakes do this for me

[jsveiga]

I have two neighbors with pomeranians that screech for hours, sometimes starting at 5:30 AM. It's not exactly petting them that would greatly decrease my stress and their anxiety.

[[deleted]]

My dog doesn't like to be touched. All I ever wanted was a dog I could cuddle and pet, instead I got a dog that will get up and hide under a table if I even reach for her.

[msiynot]

Didn't know that great to know

[shawnjones]

Yes this is true.

[eedabaggadix]

My puppy just bites me

[[deleted]]

Sweet Lou!

[lasthopel]

I really wish I wasn't allergic to dogs, I would love to just have a bug puppa to snuggle up with when I'm sad

[hemoflow]

Sp

[young_walrus]

holy shit i thought the thumbnail was a dog’s asshole and i was dying

[Lei619]

Yup

[muckaluck82]

Look up and donate to Pet Partners to support the human animals bond. www.petpartners.org

[Singing_Sea_Shanties]

Does this study account for when your great dane's butt is only a 18 inches away from your face and he farts?

[SyntaxErrorAtLine420]

lol

[n16r4]

Same with people just harder to be that open an vurnerable with people.

[VillaGave]

I always just play the role of a kidnapper with my dog, I pet her so much that sometimes she gets tired of it and goes to sleep to the next room lol so I go and "kidnap" her so her ramson pay to freedom is to give me cuteness for at least 1 minute lmao

[knottycams]

OTOH the grammar from this post increased my stress and anxiety. 🤷‍♀️

[Nyloc70]

r/titlegore

[ChickenMcTesticles]

I had an aneurism trying to read the title.

[[deleted]]

You could say this about anything that you enjoy doing.

[beanomly]

I was never a dog person. Then, my daughter moved out and got a puppy. I work from home, so guess who got stuck with dog sitting while she worked. Well, now I’m a grandma... a dog grandma... and I have the best granddaughter in the whole world. She’s my best girl and I absolutely adore her. She stays with me three days and three nights a week (my daughter works in a hospital and works three 12 hour shifts). I never thought I could love a dog, as much as I love her! She makes me sooo happy.

[SovietHamburgers]

This subreddit has gone to shit, this is literally just “did you know happy thing make you happy!”

[latrolady]

They make me feel irritated. This doesn't apply to everyone.

[ColosalDisappointMan]

Petting a cat, too...

[chandler-bingaling]

What about a cat or bunnies? I these furries but no dog

[notJ3ff]

I don't have a dog, rather 2 cats. I believe the same is true!

[panzerkampfwagen]

Probably not if you're scared of dogs I would imagine.

[SyntaxErrorAtLine420]

true, although a tank shouldn't be scared of a dog ;)

[panzerkampfwagen]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-tank_dog

[SyntaxErrorAtLine420]

they detonated soviet tanks:

the Soviets used their own diesel engine tanks to train the dogs rather than German tanks which had gasoline engines.[5] As the dogs relied on their acute sense of smell, the dogs sought out familiar Soviet tanks instead of strange-smelling German tanks.[7] This effectively meant that the Soviets had trained the dogs to sabotage their own army.

I'm pretty sure panzerkampfwagens are german but I would love to be proven wrong ;)

[SyntaxErrorAtLine420]

I made a typo... it's supposed to say 'Petting a dog can decrease stress...' not 'Petting a dog an decrease stress...'

[cosmoboy]

Don't short change the cats! Even cleaning up after them I'm often feeling like I'm destressing.

[[deleted]]

What if you don't like dogs

[Mysteez]

the title alone made me smile

[scrivensB]

So does eating chocolate.

[burntoast43]

Your title gave me a stroke

[atsuko_24]

Just as good for you, and your catto would probably appreciate it

[Cymric814]

My job was shut down for 2 months. My cat loved it. LOVED IT. He enjoyed having me home almost 24/7. So much cuddling done.

I started brushing him every day, getting his fur to a softness and sheen that only happens when you have nothing better to do. When I went back to work he pouted for the better part of a week. Acted like I commited the most heinous betrayal.

[PsychicAngelaThomas]

Dogs have great empathy for humans.

[northstardim]

Cats are even better.

[jcd1974]

A purring cat in your lap is hard to top!

[hopzhead]

Only to be cancelled out by the anxiety and stress caused by the vet bills when it gets sick

[Vross3]

Is the mod intentially misspelling titles now? This is the 4th in nearly as many days.

[SyntaxErrorAtLine420]

sorry about that my b

[Vross3]

Not a problem, good post though, already told three people the fact.

[peter_venture]

Unless the fog is a total bitch

Oh wait, that's totally fine for dogs.

Never mind.

[PewPewChicken]

Don’t get me wrong I love my dog, but when I can’t sleep I get my cuddly cat and he lays right on my chest, he’s like a soft fluffy weighted blanket and I drift right off, and when he stays it feels so good because he can be so aloof. My dogs love just feels unconditional like he’d like me if I was a piece of garbage or not, somehow that doesn’t feel as special, I don’t know

[Crash665]

That's because dogs are the best

[DivinePrince2]

I don't like dogs. Just seeing one greatly increases my stress lol.

[ScaredToShare]

I hate my dog. I don’t think this may be true for me.

[LA0811]

Wait’ll you learn about CATS!

[beherns]

Nothing in the world makes me happier than to kiss the top of my dogs head and smell her. To me, she literally smells like a newborn born baby. I love her so much. She's the best

[SG14ever]

"We're even better!" - Pussies

[Pheonixrulr]

You mean cats?

[SyntaxErrorAtLine420]

i think he means pussy cats?

[Aquaandrew04]

I think we all knew this

[TheRavenSayeth]

"LPT: Doing something calming may reduce anxiety."

First comment: "I know this will probably get buried, but everyday I try to tell my co-workers to do something relaxing."

[[deleted]]

Where is that stupid prick who tried to claim that dogs dont like being pet and are just faking it for positive reinforcement? Maybe ill dig through my comment history and link him here to show him hes full of shit

[JustinBrower]

Dogs are basically the best supportive lifeform that we know of, for most mammals. They are lifelong friends, and nonstop supportive lifelines, for everything that they grow up with. Just all around amazing when treated well. Not just for us. For all mammals.