A Minneapolis-based researcher on human longevity says one of the simplest ways people might extend their lives is by getting a dog.
Dan Buettner, founder of the Blue Zones organization, pointed to a growing body of research linking dog ownership to a lower risk of early death, especially from heart disease. Speaking on a recent episode of “The Dan Buettner Podcast,” he said the benefit comes down to habits a dog forces on its owner.
“The best thing you can do to add years to your life may surprise you. Get a dog!” Buettner said. “Research shows that dog owners live longer, suffer fewer heart attacks and experience less loneliness. Why? Because a dog forces you to walk every day, gives you a purpose and provides unconditional love.”
The claim isn’t just anecdotal. Research published by the American Heart Association in its journal Circulation found dog ownership is associated with a 24% reduction in all-cause mortality compared with non-owners. Among people who had already survived a heart attack or stroke, living with a dog cut the risk of death by as much as 33%.
Movement, Stress and Isolation
Researchers point to three overlapping explanations for the pattern. First, dog owners simply move more. Studies published in BMC Public Health show dog owners walk an average of 22 more minutes a day than people without dogs, making them far more likely to hit standard weekly exercise targets.
Second, interacting with a pet appears to lower cortisol, the body’s main stress hormone, while raising oxytocin, dopamine and serotonin. A 12-year Swedish study covering 3.4 million participants found dog owners had lower blood pressure and reduced rates of cardiovascular disease.
Third, dogs combat loneliness — a problem the U.S. Surgeon General has labeled a national public health epidemic, warning it carries health risks comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Experts describe dogs as natural
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