Episode 15:

Script:

Hello, everyone. Welcome back. Today's topic is dogs. Life is better with a dog.

Dogs are loyal animals. They love their owners unconditionally and offer devoted companionship and constant entertainment. Spending time with dogs work wonders for our wellbeing. Is it just a feeling, or is it science?

Researches show that people's lives are indeed better with dogs. Dogs make us happier, healthier and help us cope with crisis. They can also improve our social lives.

Here are some of the science-proved benefits.

Dogs offer unconditional love, emotional support and they are good companions. Studies show that dog ownership reduces loneliness.

Dogs are good for our physical health. Dog owners exercise more than non-dog owners. An average dog needs about one hour of walking every day. We become more active after we have dogs.

A recent research suggests that dog owners have lower blood pressure and improved responses to stress, and that the bond between humans and dogs can help us deal better with stress and crisis.

Dogs can improve our social life. When we take our dogs out, we have more opportunities to meet new people in the park. Commenting one’s dog can be a good conversation starter.

For those who are single, it may improve our dating life as well. A dog's presence makes us look more likeable and friendly. Studies also found that on dating sites, people with dogs in their profile pictures have more likes than those who don't.

In a study done by Japanese researchers in 2009, it was found that staring into our dog's eyes raises our level of oxytocin, also called "love hormones", which are natural mood boosters.

Of course, having a dog at home can be a source of stress. They require a lot of attention, exercise, play time and we have more cleaning to do.

But I think the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.

A dog that is about 7 – 9 kg is ideal for our family. However, we ended up buying a larger breed. My dog’s name is Oreo. She is now 9 months old and 25 kg already. It is tough taking her for a walk. But I must say, despite the challenges, our family is happier than before.

Vocabulary

Unconditionally – without any conditions

Devoted – loyal, faithful

Outweigh - exceed