Dogs! Where would humankind be without the presence of their canine best friends? The friendship started ever since humans started domesticating canines to hunt and keep us company some 40000 years ago. Slowly, these four-legged creatures grew dear to us and we grew dear to them. They have been a subject of a lot of scientific studies on how they affect our mood and overall life.

Imagine your Aussie doodle just running to you as soon as you get home from a tiring work day. The medium brown eyes full of love and respect gazing at you. The wet nose nuzzling in your hands and the excited wagging of the tail denoting actual adoration. Didn’t the thought just put a smile on your face? Studies show that petting and playing with your dog releases a number of good feeling hormones like serotonin, oxytocin and dopamine. Canines improve stress relief and relaxation along with comfort and companionship. It is notable how dogs have an effect in almost all walks of human life. Dogs can impact emotional and cognitive intelligence in children along with them learning to share with a companion early on in life. Growing up with dogs can decrease the risk of allergies, asthma and have some immune-boosting effects too. Dogs have the ability to decrease the risk of depression and anxiety among teenagers and adults alike. Depression and anxiety due to loneliness is one of the leading issues with mental health in the world and dog owners are one-third less likely to suffer with them. As dogs live in the present and do not care about the past or future of their owners, it enables the human to be more mindful and grateful for his/her life.

It is proven that dog owners live a longer life than people who don’t own dogs because of the increased happiness levels and lower blood pressure levels. The exercise that a person gets due to playing and walking the dogs is also one of the reasons that they tend to live long. Especially people with hunting breeds like retrievers and terriers, the physical activity levels are much more.

One of the major reasons why dogs have so much effect on the emotions of people is that they fulfil the basic human need of touch. Similar to stress balls etc., playing and stroking a dog makes you feel happier because you feel less lonely. Even hardened criminals have shown long-term differences after interacting with dogs over a period of time.

Dogs have been our companions for several thousand years. They have been with us since we were hunter-gatherers roaming the wild jungles and have evolved with us as we evolved into the modern species that we are today. Hence, it is only natural that these wonderful creatures find a place in our religions too. Let us now take a look at their place in different religions of the World.

Christianity:

It has been said in the Bible that a dog accompanied Tobias and the angel Raphael on their journey to paradise and thus earned itself and its species a place in Heaven. St. Roche is recognized by the Catholic Church as the Patron Saint of all Dogs. His story goes such that he caught the dreaded Plague when working in the streets of 14th Century France and so went into the forest to die. There, a dog brought him food and water and nourished him back to full health. Thus, his name day is celebrated as the birthday of all dogs in several countries today.

Islam:

In Islam, dogs are generally treated as scavengers and so not given a high place. However, the Quran says that the Prophet advises men to be kind to dogs and feed them whenever possible.

Hinduism:

In Hinduism, dogs (wireless electric dog fence) have a special place and are treated as an incarnation of the God Bhairavaa. He is always depicted with a Dog by his side and is said to have been his loyal companion. It is also believed that Yudhishthira was accompanied by a dog on his path to heaven. Thus, many Hindus believe that caring for dogs will rid them of their sins and take them to heaven.

Judaism: 

Jewish law dictates that men must feed dogs before they feed themselves. This is considered a great act and will help a man reach heaven upon his passing. Consumption of dog meat is also considered a great sin and is strictly prohibited by the Jewish law.

Zoroastrianism:

In Zoroastrianism, Dogs are considered to be pure and righteous creatures. It is said that they have the power to ward off evil creatures of the night. Dogs are also to be fed and taken care of, so that they may perform the useful work around the household and in the fields for men. In traditional Zoroastrian households, the house dog is also accorded the same funeral ceremony performed for men.