Making a difference. When propositioned with these three words, typically one relates this idea strictly to humans. Whether through medical care and increasing a lifespan, or therapy and analyzing human emotions, these imposter jobs are reserved for humans. That belief is unjustified. Dogs also possess the ability to make a difference in human lives. Increased lifespan, taking on human jobs, and reading people’s emotions are some of the many roles that dogs can take on. Over time, research has proven that dogs have the ability to play roles that are usually attributed to humans.
A loving relationship between dogs and humans has existed for many years. This perfect partnership began with wolves. Many say that the partnership between dogs and humans started when wolves discovered that humans left scraps of kills outside their houses (Patent and Muñoz 93). This idea suggests that wolves were not afraid of people, and over time tamed themselves to humans. Other ideas exist that humans and wolves were hunting partners from the beginning. Hearing four times better and possessing a powerful sense of smell, meant that wolves had easier access to killing prey (Patent and Muñoz 99). The wolf heritage provides dogs with a natural ability to guard (Patent and Muñoz 176). Wolves had packs they had to guard. Dogs perceive their humans this way today. Humans began to breed dogs to develop the traits that were used most. This development helped set the tone for a perfect human-dog partnership (Patent and Muñoz 171). Many years ago, humans and dogs began to build a relationship that would continue today.
According to a research study of over three point four million people, dogs have the ability to increase human life span (Macmillan). Uppsala University in Sweden discovered that those who owned a dog had a lower risk of death due to cardiovascular disease, and other causes. Factors including smoking, and body weight were even accounted for (Macmillan). Those who live alone proves to be the largest group affected by this study. People who live alone have a significantly higher chance of an early death than those who live with others. In those who live alone with a dog, decreased their risk of death by thirty-three percent, and decreased the risk for cardiovascular disease by 11 percent (Macmillan). Tove Fall, a veterinarian and associate professor of Epidemiology, said, “I have met numerous owners that are convinced that their pet has been instrumental for them, often in terms of social support. As a dog owner, I also notice that the people I meet during walks are often other dog owners” (Macmillan). In short, dogs promote healthy and active lifestyle. The study found that owners who bred dogs had the lowest risk of disease and death (Macmillan).
Due to their intelligence and ability to undergo intense training, dogs can be used in many different jobs. In the police force, a dog’s nose in one of the biggest assets (Weiss-Roessler). From smelling drugs to hidden bombs, dogs play a special role in the police task force. It is also shown that dogs can dissuade confrontations with officers, just by a growl from a serious looking dog (Weiss-Roessler). Police aren’t the only people dogs protect. Dogs may also be trained to be personal guard dogs. They can keep their property safe by being obedient (Weiss-Roessler). On the farm, dogs assist farmers by herding. The livestock is circled in by a well trained dog. Whatever time of the day it is, search and rescue dogs can assist when a person goes missing (Weiss-Roessler). When humans run away or are taken, dogs are used by smelling something that has the missing person’s scent and tracing it (Weiss-Roessler). Around the time of World War II, dogs were incorporated into the military field (Weiss-Roessler). Their many tasks include serving as scouts, sentries, trackers, and bomb detectors (Weiss-Roessler). They also help improve troop morale. Military dogs may be dressed with cameras and microphones so when they enter a scene, the American troop who is handling them on the outside can see and hear what is going on (Weiss-Roessler). One of the most common jobs dogs can endure is being a service dog. They can be trained to help with disabilities including physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual, and mental situations (Weiss-Roessler). Guide dogs help those who are blind move around safely. Of the many different types of service dogs, one is a mobility dog. When one has a serious physical injury, mobility dogs help by opening door, carrying packages, and other tasks, which may be hard for their patient (Weiss-Roessler). Dogs can preform many tasks and jobs that humans have a need for and are able to complete the tasks without bias.
Another characteristic of dogs is that dogs can tell the difference in emotions that humans faces and voices produce. In a lab of Professor Ludwig Huber in Australia, scientists found that dogs have the ability to tell the difference between happy and mad faces (Patent and Muñoz 249). The experiment showed dogs the top or bottom halves of a pair of faces. Some dogs were rewarded for the happy face, and others for the angry face. They even could tell the difference in new faces (Patent and Muñoz 249). The study showed that it was less stressful for dogs to choose the happy face, instead of the angry face (Patent and Muñoz 249). Like many humans, Doctor Huber, a key scientist in this study, explained that, “it seems like dogs dislike approaching angry faces” (Patent and Muñoz 249). Another scientist, Doctor Daniel Mills from Britain preformed a common study. He found that dogs can tell the difference between happy and angry faces, but seeing a face that is neither happy or angry, unsettled the dog (Patent and Muñoz 255). This is because dogs interpret faces emotionally so when a face seems to show no emotion, it looks bad to them (Patent and Muñoz 260). By using an MRI machine, Doctor Attila Andics and his colleagues, proved that dogs recognize emotions by listening to the tone in human voices (Patent and Muñoz 285). Like human brains, the tone of speech is processed in one part of the brain, and the actual meaning of the words is in a separate place. When positive words and tones are used to speak to a dog, the reward center lights up, just like it does when dogs are given treats (Patent and Muñoz 285).
Although dogs offer much help to humans, they can also cause problems. The cost of taking good care of a dog throughout the course of its life is extremely high. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals calculated that owning a large dog can cost eight hundred and seventy five dollars a year, at a minimum (Ravn). Many humans also can be allergic to dogs. Coughing, sneezing, and itchy eyes and nose are often symptoms of allergies pertaining to dogs. Even if someone who has dog allergies does not live with a dog, being close to a dog can will affect them. Dogs also bite humans very often. Around four point five billion Americans, children to adults, are bitten each year, but only one in five result in serious injuries that need medical attention (Ravn). Gregory Okin, UCLA Geography professor and author of a recent study into the environmental impact of pets, said that dogs can “carry disease, pollute waterways, and coastal zones through runoff from areas with feces, and have adverse effects on wildlife. They can also carry toxoplasmosis, which is very harmful, especially to people with compromised immune systems” (Usher). Factors like these play into many people’s arguments of why dogs are actually bad for humans, and the environment.
Despite the opposition, dogs provide humans with more good than bad. Some of the many roles dogs can take on are increasing lifespan, taking on human jobs, like service dogs, and reading people’s emotions. Dogs have the incredible ability to make a difference in human lives. Over many years, reacher has proven that dogs have many roles, which impact human lives in a good way.