Besides having a pet as a best friend, they can also be trained to assist you in other ways as well. If you're blind and need assistance or someone in your family has PTSD, you can get a service dog who can live your day with the confidence that you can make it through. There are SO many reasons why you need a furry friend in your life!

1. Help You Be More Social

The British Medical Journal has concluded that dogs act as “social catalysts,” who help people get out more, approach others more easily, and overall reduce isolation. This is actually more important than the basic companionship that dogs provide, as human social support is more beneficial to human health.

Source: bmj

2. Help Babies Stay Healthy By Being Dirty

A recent study has shown that babies with dogs are actually healthier than those without dogs, reporting fewer coughs, runny noses, and ear infections. The reason, researchers believe, is because dogs will track in dirt, mud, and other germ-infested bits of earth, thereby boosting the child’s immune system.

Source: usnews

3. Make Their Elderly Owners Go To The Doctor Less

Almost certainly due to the positive vibes and good feelings that dogs bring out of their masters, even in the worst of times, studies have found that older people who own dogs average at least one less doctor appointment per year than those who do not.

Source: nytimes

4. Help Prevent Bullying

Bullying has been a huge problem for a long time, and people are finally doing something about it. Dogs, too. Experimental programs have been launched that bring dogs into schools to promote empathy, with the lesson that you shouldn’t treat people badly, because you wouldn’t do it to a dog. Thus far, kids have been able to make the connection, which will hopefully continue to be the case.

Source: theweek

5. Help You Stay in Shape

A study from the University Of London has determined that kids with dogs are more active, and exercise more often, than kids without dogs. After all, it’s a lot more fun and interesting to go jogging with your dog than alone

Source: dogvacay

6. Aid With Depression

Day-to-day depression, or even more serious chronic depression, is easier to handle with the love of a dog, studies show. Simply by having them around, and knowing that even at our worst, somebody loves us unconditionally and is eager to see us happy again, we’re given a reason to get up and keep going.

Source: globalpost

7. Help Veterans Overcome PTSD

Simply by being themselves, dogs have been shown to help reduce PTSD among soldiers. In addition to providing the usual doggie companionship, they have been shown to help sufferers come out of their shells, be less numb and angry, and improve their social life as well.

Source: smithsonianmag

8. Detect Seizures Before They Happen

Recent research has shown certain dogs are able to warn seizure patients that they’re going to experience an attack, sometimes hours before it happens. Nobody yet knows how they do it, or why only certain dogs can do it. They also can’t be trained to do it, so if you feel you need a seizure-sniffing dog, you need to make sure you have yourself a natural.

Source: nationalgeographic

9. Detect Low Blood Sugar

That sense of smell can do even more; dogs can also detect low blood sugar in their master. They will either alert the person that the sugar has dropped or, if a diabetic attack has already occurred, will bark and bark and bark in an attempt to alert somebody to come help, thus working to save the diabetic’s life.

Source: dlife

Sure, any pet is a lot of responsibility, but think of the benefits you will receive from adopting a furry friend (there are more reasons on distractify too!). He'll be a great snuggle buddy and he'll also encourage you to get off the couch and take him for a walk when you're having a bad day. If you already have a pup in your life get up and give him a hug — he deserves it!