Today marks the longest night of the year and the shortest day of the year. Along with shorter days, many people experience seasonal affective disorder. From reducing stress to easing feelings of loneliness and depression, encouraging research shows dogs could bring the dopamine boost our brains need during the darkest of days.
Source: Happy Puppy Tips. Link. Along with indoor playtime, which increases a pet’s mood and playfulness along with the owner’s dopamine, experts recommend at least one 30-minute walk each day for the dog, which is also the exact recommendation by doctors to improve negative moods, ward off depression, and improve self-esteem in humans.
Related content: SAD: turn toward the light, AHD Archives. Link.