Canines are the perfect ice breaker to start conversations.
London, April 30, 2019: Certainly it is good news for those who are having socializing issues and take a long to open up. According to a recent study almost half of dog owners have made friends while on their walks with their pups. Research involving 2,000 dog owners found they have met an average of four new people through their pet while out for walks or at puppy training classes.
This has led to the dogs themselves having a vast social life too, with 60% of owners believing their pet has ‘dog friends’. The average dog is considered to have three friends, with more than one quarter even having a ‘walking buddy’, often going out with the same canine and owner. And eight in 10 believe it is ‘important’ for dogs to have friends that they regularly see. As well as canines, three in 10 dogs also have other animal companions, the majority of which are cats. But some respondents said their pet is friends with a horse and rabbit. The study was commissioned by children’s TV Channel, Boomerang, to launch its new show Mighty Mike on 1 May. Nick Jones, MA Dog Behaviourist said: ‘Dogs that mix nicely together can form strong bonds and learn a variety of social skills from each other that humans may find hard to spot or recognise.
‘Similarly, dogs are the perfect ice breaker to start conversations with people you might otherwise pass by and are proven to bring numerous health benefits along the way, such as improvements in mental and physical health, which this research has also shown.’ The study also found 54% of dog owners believe having their pet has boosted their confidence as they can easily talk to strangers. Other areas of their lives which have been improved include stress levels, health and time spent outdoors. A further four in 10 even said their overall happiness has been enhanced and one third admitted to arranging ‘play dates’ for themselves and their pooch. Love lives have even been positively affected, as one six knows someone who has met their other half through having a dog. Further to this, one quarter of pups are ‘friends’ with a fellow dog in their house.
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