Top Benefits of Daily Hugs from Dogs

In a time when we are isolating from other humans, we can all benefit from hugs from our dogs.  It is known that humans need contact and connection and if you are lucky enough to have a dog in your home, then you can garner the benefits from your furry family member.  

The following information is an excerpt from https://www.healthline.com/health/hugging-benefits#2  It is a great article on the benefits of hugs.  We encourage you to read and hug with a twist…every time it says “hug” consider that a hug from your dog is an absolute positive alternative to a human hug.  

So sit with your dog, get close in for a hug and read some top reasons to incorporate dog hugs in your daily lives: 

Family therapist Virginia Satir once said, “We need four hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth.” While that may sound like a lot of hugs, it seems that many hugs are better than not enough.

So, how many hugs should you have a day for optimal health? According to the best science, we should have as many as possible if we want to reap the greatest positive effects.

Unfortunately, most Western people today — especially people in the United States — are touch-deprived. Many people live solitary or busy lives with reduced social interaction and touching.

Our modern social conventions often push people not to touch others who aren’t directly related to them. However, it seems people could benefit a lot from touching others a bit more.

So, if you want to feel better about yourself, reduce your stress, improve communication, and be happier and healthier, it seems that giving and asking for more hugs is a good place to start.

If you feel nervous about seeking out more hugs, start by asking for them from friends and family members closest to you first.

Science proves that regular hugs with those closest to you, even if brief, can have especially positive effects on your brain and body.

Happy hugging