4 Reasons Why Every Business Owner Needs a Dog

Being an entrepreneur can be a rewarding experience, as it provides you the freedom to create a business that you’re truly passionate about. However, the life of a business owner still comes with its own challenges. More often than not, there’s a lot of fast-paced and complex work involved. As such, many entrepreneurs often find themselves feeling stressed, exhausted, and isolated.

Keeping this in mind, getting a dog can be a great way to avoid and overcome these common challenges. Dogs are steadfast companions that provide you with unconditional love that you can’t find anywhere else. Indeed, many dog owners can attest that caring for their four-legged friends has improved the overall quality of their lives.

Of course, taking care of a furry friend comes with its fair share of responsibilities. You’ll need to ensure that your home and office are adequately equipped to welcome a canine companion. This means investing in quality pet supplies from reliable suppliers of custom-made and wholesale pet merchandise to keep your pup healthy, comfortable, and happy.

But is going through all that trouble really worth it in the long run? While taking on more responsibility may not seem ideal for an entrepreneur, caring for a dog can actually improve your health and well-being as well as enrich your professional life. To learn more, below are four reasons why every business owner needs a dog:

It Significantly Reduces Stress and Anxiety

Entrepreneurs are more likely to experience high levels of stress compared to other professionals with low-risk jobs. In fact, studies show that 45 percent of U.S.-based entrepreneurs often feel stressed and anxious throughout the day. This makes sense, considering the deadlines, pitches, paperwork, decision-making, and uncertainty that come with managing your own business.

However, in order to succeed as an entrepreneur, it’s crucial to manage your stress. High levels of stress can not only decrease your productivity but also lead to serious illnesses such as cardiovascular diseases.

Fortunately, spending some quality time with a canine companion can greatly reduce stress and anxiety levels. Research shows that dog owners tend to have lower levels of cortisol—the body’s primary stress hormone—compared to those who don’t own dogs. Dog owners were also found to have lower blood pressure, which minimizes their risk of heart disease.

Additionally, petting your dog even for just a few minutes can raise your serotonin levels. Serotonin is known as the “happiness hormone,” since it boosts mood and stabilizes emotions. So, the next time you’re stressed from work, take a moment to reach for your pup and give them a good belly rub—it’s sure to be beneficial for both of you.

It Encourages You to Stay Active

It can be easy to forget to exercise with the hectic schedule and packed to-do list of an entrepreneurial job. However, you can’t stay cooped up at your workstation for very long without negatively affecting your health in the long run. Plus, regular physical activity can greatly improve memory and focus, both of which are crucial in any business operation.

The good news is that having a dog encourages you to stay active because they require adequate playtime to stay healthy. Studies show that owners who take their dogs on 20-minute walks every day—or two 10-minute walks a day—can lose around 14.4 pounds annually. With a canine by your side, you can engage in a fun fitness routine that’ll keep you in tip-top shape.

It Teaches You Invaluable Skills You Can Use for Your Business

Caring for a dog takes lots of time and patience, but many owners find that it’s well worth the effort. After all, it can teach you many valuable lessons and skills that are transferable to your own profession as a business owner. Dogs know how to have fun and enjoy life to the fullest, and caring for a pup can teach you how to do this for yourself, too. Indeed, these are lessons that every entrepreneur needs to remember when the going gets tough.

Taking care of your dog will not only give you a deeper sense of responsibility but also help you become a more empathetic person. As your furry friend can’t speak for themselves, you are required to hone your sensitivity to non-verbal cues. This is a crucial skill when dealing with people in your business operations, such as clients, stakeholders, and employees.

It Provides You with Opportunities to Build and Strengthen Relationships

Running a business can be lonely work, especially when you forget to keep in touch with those around you. That said, this is another area in which owning a pup can help entrepreneurs like you—that is, aside from keeping you company while you work.

To be specific, research shows that an owner’s connection to their pet can help them feel closer to their community and loved ones. Whether you’re meeting fellow fur parents at a dog park or inviting friends over to play with your pooch, a dog can remind you to foster new relationships and maintain old ones.

While the life of an entrepreneur can be highly rewarding, it can also be quite stressful and challenging. However, with a loyal pooch by your side, such hurdles can easily be overcome. Truly, there’s nothing quite like coming home to a pup with a wagging tail after a long day at work.