Benefits of having your four legged friend with you on the road.
Whenever you have a bad day or you just come home exhausted, there is one thing that is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. The unconditional love of your pet. They’re excited to see you, devastated to watch you leave, and pleasant company in between. So as a long haul driver, why not just take them with you? There have been arguments made against pets on the road such as; hygiene, scheduling, breaks and other potential roadblocks. However, in this list let’s consider the positive mental and health effects drivers can experience when traveling with a pet.
Mental and Physical Health Benefits of Pets
It’s well known that natural cures are preferred over prescriptions by many people. Everything from anxiety and depression to post-traumatic stress disorder have shown positive changes with homeopathic remedies. One such remedy may be the companionship of a pet. Pets offer many benefits for improving health.
- Pets are good for your heart. What’s one main thing a dog needs? A walk. The same can be said for every human as well! This can lower your blood pressure and help you shed some pounds. Even people with preexisting heart conditions were shown to improve over time after getting a pet. While there is no study that shows direct connections, these benefits are thought to be associated with pets’ tendency to help reduce their owners’ stress levels.
- Relaxation is key. Petting your four-legged friend is not only a nice massage for them, but it’s been shown to release the feel-good hormones serotonin, prolactin, and oxytocin. This feel-good exercise can also lower the stress hormone cortisol. A good 15 minute petting session once or twice a day should do the trick.
- Everyone loves dogs. The social butterflies of the four-footed animal world, dogs make people more comfortable and approachable. So if you’re looking to make a new acquaintance, your best bet would be to bring your best bud along.
- Pet is spelled H-A-P-P-Y. While you may think it’s just about feeding and walking them (cats can go on walks, too!), pets make people happier. Pets have been known to help us develop empathy and boost our self-esteem. It’s a partnership in which happiness is the only outcome.
Check out our list of pet-friendly truck stops so you know where you and your travel buddy can get a great break.
Do you take your dog or other pet with you on the road? Share your thoughts about pets on the road with us on our Facebook page, Twitter or Google+ page!