Lifestyle

Dog Ownership in Retirement

Retirement is something that many people spend years planning for, getting excited about and looking forward to. But when the time comes, it can often leave people feeling a little (or very) shocked! Life, and the routine that you have had for many years changes a lot and this can cause many people to feel a lot of emotions, from worrying about the future to not feeling useful anymore.

There are many changes at this time, to choosing a new home for your retirement like these Gloucestershire park homes, to making financial changes to help you manage your retirement comfortably.

With nothing to fill the time, and the routine gone, it can be a struggle to adapt to life as a retired person. However, something that can be a great way to help you throughout retirement is getting a dog. Now that you have all this time on your hands, you can really take the time to care for a dog, and have that feeling of routine back, as well as a best friend to share retirement with.

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There are many ways that a dog can help you throughout retirement. They need daily exercise, which can get you out and about and doing plenty of exercise. This helps to keep you mobile and fit, as well as having a positive effect on your cardiovascular system, keeping your heart healthy and lowering blood pressure.


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They are also a great way to make friends. If you are struggling with loneliness during your retirement, dogs are not only amazing companions themselves, but as they get you out and about, they are a good way to break the ice and meet other people and dog owners. Of course, dogs are also incredibly loyal and excellent company – they aren’t called man’s best friend for nothing.

Another reason why dogs are so great in particular during retirement, is the fact that they are so good at helping us mentally too. Caring for a dog helps to release feel good hormones in your brain and spending time with dogs is a really good way to boost your mood. So, if you have felt a little down and out of sorts since you retired, a dog could be the friend you need to help you get back on your feet.