Saturday Magazine

Researchers have found that dogs can actually help us manage stress and anxiety.

So can dogs really affect our mental health? Let’s dive in.

Dogs impact on your mental health

“Dogs are the antidote to reality TV and social media. In front of a dog, you can just be. They don’t care if you’ve got makeup on or if you’re in a bad mood. They are the only ones who never offer solutions. And yet are incredibly helpful in their non-judgmental way of being,” explains author and trauma counsellor, Angelika von Sanden.

In her book Sit, Stay, Grow: How Dogs Can Help You Worry Less and Walk Into a Better Future, she explores how mindful interactions with our canine companions can transform our mental well-being.

“Working as a social worker and therapist for decades, I not only heard stories of heartbreaking pain but also about the many times dogs were named as the purpose to keep going, the shoulder to cry on, and the one steady and non-judgemental being in people’s life.”

Based on principles of acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), the idea is that daily walks, playtime, and even just observing our pets can help us overcome negativity, find joy, and live more meaningful lives.

The key, Angelika says, is treating ourselves with the same kindness we extend to our animals.

“What if you treated yourself the same way you treat your dog?” she asks. “If you notice you talk to your dog worse than you talk to yourself, go to your dog and apologise! But usually, it’s the other way around. We treat our dogs with so much more love and patience than we give ourselves.”