Man's Best Friend- But Why?

Pets have become a major part of human society. They provide company for us, provide us with never faltering attention and love. However, before the 1980's dogs were typically kept outside and didn't really interfere with general family life. Nowadays dogs are an almost integral part of family life and wellbeing. So what is it that makes us so attached to these animals? They certainly aren't kept for their behavioral tendencies. The wet tongue on your face every morning to remind you it's time for their morning walk, the constant smell that lingers around the house no matter how much air freshener you dispatch into the air, the constant molting and hair everywhere, and their desperate need for attention that never falters, no matter how much you berate them for their other equally annoying tendencies. Outside of the home, countless tests have been conducted on the presence of dog's in our life. Many have found several benefits, not just to ownership of dogs, but even just being in the presence of one has been proven to relax, provide social support, and reduce cardiovascular indicators of anxiety. Owning a dog means you have to walk them, resulting in your own exercise, obviously increasing fitness and standard of health. Dogs have even been used in mental institutions to relax and help sufferers of Alzheimer's disease due to their apparently calming effect. In regards to domestic-dogs, we do have such emotional attachments to them. We feel the need to enrich their life, pamper them, give them everything they could ever gander for as though they were our own children, in return for them enriching our lives. They're never going to judge you for anything you do. No matter how terrible a day you're having, no matter how stressful your feeling, your faithful pet will be right beside you with it's tongue hanging out, awaiting to do everything it can to make your day a little brighter. If you're sad and down, your canine companion will be there for you, it's faithful little face supporting you on your down day. In return for all of it's support, all your furry best friend asks for is a pat on the head to assure him that you're thankful for it's canine comradery. Despite their sometimes detrimental effect on our lives, pets are somewhat necessary for emotional support, for those times when human companionship simply won't do.