The Impact of Pet Ownership on Young Women’s Personal Growth

Pet lovers can list dozens of benefits they get from their fur babies, with unconditional love at the top. Nearly everyone can enhance their life by including pets, but young women can see their personal growth enhanced. Adding a dog, cat, ferret, hampster, rabbit, etc. to the household is a positive decision for their lives.

Benefits of Pet Ownership

Young women are often insecure, particularly as they enter adolescence. Their bodies are rapidly changing and they face pressure to fit in.

Pets are a cute conversation starter that can help people with socialization. A fuzzy puppy or sleek cat attracts attention of people, particularly of other pet owners.

It’s quite easy to find new friendships at the dog park or during a stroll around the block because pet owners are a community that is open to new members.

Let’s look at some other benefits of getting a pet:

Unconditional Emotional Support

Young people these days are battling body image issues, hormonal changes, and societal pressure. Their emotions can be volatile, and their friends and families might find it difficult to offer support.

Pets have no such boundaries. They live for attention from their humans and are always ready to give back the love. On a young woman’s worst day, their pet will be ready to support them.

Healthy Responsibility

Pets teach young people responsibility. They have to be fed, watered, exercised, given healthcare, and comforted. These chores are not optional. All children benefit from doing tasks around the house. Getting by in life means contributing to others’ well-being. Taking care of a pet also develops emotional resources. One study showed that children who are strongly connected to a pet possess stronger “pro-social” behavior than their petless peers.

Stress Reduction

Pets relieve stress. Multiple studies show that petting an animal lowers stress levels and blood pressure. It also helps release oxytocin, a hormone that causes feelings of happiness. No matter the situation, being around their pets has a positive effect on young women’s stress levels.

Tips for Young Women Thinking about Getting a Pet

Before getting a pet, young women need to consider the following:

Time: Do you have time to take care of a pet daily? You can never ignore a pet’s needs.

Finances: Pets are costly friends. They require healthcare,pet insurance, food, and grooming, so cost is an important consideration.

Allergies: Determine if you are allergic before getting a pet.

Research: Find the right pet for your lifestyle and living space.

Train Your Pet Well

Before getting a pet, plan how to train them. Will you go to classes, hire a trainer, or do it yourself? Pets must be trained to enable them to happily coexist with humans.

Professional tips for training usually go along these lines:

Patience. Dog training takes time and patience from the owner. Dogs will train at their own pace, and showing them anger will only set back their progress. Also, they progress over time. Do not expect big results after one session.

Rewards. Your dog needs positive reinforcement as they progress. Petting is nice, but your dog will do better with small, tasty treats. Verbal praise is also effective for many.

No Punishment. Do not act too upset when your dog fails to complete their tasks. Anger doesn’t work and can make your dog fearful and anxious.

Getting a pet is a huge responsibility, one that requires a huge commitment of time and resources. Young women who are ready for this responsibility will find that pet ownership gives much more than it takes. They will lessen their stress, enjoy emotional support, and learn dependability. Pets enhance the lives of many, including young women.