I am an owner of two dogs and a huge dog lover, so one of my favorite things to hear a participant say when asked what motivates or supports them to quit smoking is “My dog.” My heart just melts when I hear that because I can understand why it is true; dogs help humans in so many different ways, and there is just something special about the relationship between a dog and its owner. Some of the participants laugh when they say, “You may not understand this, but my dog supports me.”

If my participants knew me, they would not be so embarrassed. Typically my response is, “Yes, I completely understand. My dogs are also a substantial source of support for me. The unconditional love that a dog gives is like no other.”

Here are some ways that dogs can help someone quit smoking:

1. Provide a Reason to Quit: Secondhand smoke is just as harmful to animals as to people. Most people do not want their pets to die a premature death because of their unhealthy habit. One survey showed that one in three smokers would quit smoking for the sake of their pets.

2. Provide Motivation for Physical Activity: Dogs provide the company and extra motivation that many people need to get outside and go for a walk. When my dogs look at me with those adorable expressions that translate into “please take me outside,” it’s just too hard to say no! Walking is a great way not only to help people manage stress as they quit, but can also be a great distraction from a craving.

3. Provide Distraction:  Not only does walking with a dog provide a distraction from a craving, but playing and wrestling can also fulfill that need. Dogs can be a great source entertainment--I know my dog could play fetch with me all day long if I let him. 

4. Provide Stress Relief:  Dogs provide unconditional love and that love really helps people manage their stress. There is nothing I would rather do after a hard day than come home and cuddle with my dogs.

In summary, dogs are a great addition to any quit plan. If you own a dog and are trying to quit smoking , do not forget about all of the ways they can offer you support.

We have all heard the grim statistics. We have seen the brightly colored maps that demonstrate quite effectively the trends in the prevalence of overweight and obesity over the past 30+ years in the United States. Currently, the Centers for Disease Control reports that over 66% of US adults are overweight or obese based on Body Mass Index standards (BMI).

Recently there has been a great deal of press that points out that our pets’ waistlines are expanding following the human trend of weight gain. With those expanding waistlines, our pets are developing the same chronic diseases we are working so hard to prevent in ourselves. Diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes and arthritis are becoming ever more prevalent in our pets, following the same trends and patterns we have increasingly seen in the human population, especially in the United States. According to the National Health Care Coalition, in 2008 alone, we spent over $2.4 trillion on health care in the United States. Ironically, in the US, we spend over $41 billion annually on our pets, a significant portion of that being on health care as well. And the experts all agree: many of our chronic diseases and our pets’ chronic diseases and hence the costs associate with them could be prevented with changes in our behaviors such as making healthier food choices, eating less and moving more.

Since our pets rely on us to take care of them, the burden for their health falls on us as well.

Making Healthier Food Choices

The problem with feeding our pets “human” foods is that many human foods are processed, not “natural” food – for humans or for cats and dogs! Whole foods such as lean meat, vegetables, fruits, low-fat dairy, whole grains, and nuts should form the basis of our diets; potato chips, marshmallows, soda, not so much. Consuming fewer processed foods, more whole foods and consuming less of everything is a simple solution for both humans and our pets.

Moving More

Food choices, however, are only half the equation. What about those sedentary lifestyles? As humans have become more sedentary, it seems so have our pets. Smaller yards, less time, and our pets end up sitting around as much as we do. Increasing activity can be a win-win for you and your pet. Take your dog for more frequent walks or play with them in the park; this also gets you up and moving. If you have a cat, play with them by dangling something from a string or throw their favorite toy for them so they chase after it. That will get you up and moving around a little as well. Make it a part of your daily routine thus insuring some movement on a daily basis for both you and your pet.

We need to take a good look at not only how we are caring for ourselves, but also how that translates to the care of those that rely on us to take care of them. We are responsible for their health, just like we are responsible for our own health. Let’s start taking responsibility.