How has having a dog changed your health, attitudes, world view and eating habits?

Hello

Since having Rupert I have changed in the following ways. Not voluntarily. Am I the only one?

a) walk more.
b) gone off eating most meat as am in the butchers a lot (feed R RAW) and I am more conscious of what it means to eat meat, and the industry as a whole.
c) go out far less, and have far less desire to go out socially
d) got to know a lot of my neighbours and local people in a way that I just wouldn't have otherwise
e) have a thorough knowledge of decent all-weather outdoor gear
f) am much, much more attuned to the seasons and nature in general
g) have started gardening
h) have many more "light" friendships - ie people I have chats with when I walk dog
i) much more environmentally conscious
j) get very upset about the amount of litter that people drop and think about pollution and that sort of thing much more
k) more independent
l) free-er - as I feel having a dog makes you much more of a random explorer of new places
m) am very pro-rescue in a way that I am sure some people wouldn't be able to understand. Am much less likely to judge a dog on its appearance. I see the way dogs end up in rescue as a reflection of what people are like in general (not in relation to dogs).
n) much more relaxed around my family as Rupert has some kind of weird healing and calming affect on all of us.

That's all I can think of for now.

I get more exercise.
And I've realised I prefer my dogs company to most peoples!

Moo has changed my life pretty much, I think they just do

Yup Flo has done pretty much all of the above with a couple of exceptions.

She often comes out to the pub with me, which means I go more   

I have also realised that you can change people's perception very very easily without them even realising it.

They certainly do change your life in so many ways. I'm a lot more tolerant, patient, forgiving, calm, happy, outdoorsy, an expert on poop   , more responsible, health-conscious, motivated and I simply cannot get upset/down/angry any more!

She keeps my feet on the ground and my head on my shoulders. I didn't have a very nice life before the little lady came along, and was always tempted to go back to that lifestyle. Now not only can I not, for her, but I don't want to. She's been hard work, and has taught me a lot about dog behaviour and general ownership, but she is absolutely my angel no dog will ever replace her. So in answer to your question, my life has done a total 360, I hardly recognize who I was before

Definitely get more exercise,socialise with people I meet more, spend more quality time as a family. I've really struggled with feeling down during my current pregnancy, and Peppa has really been my rock. Just a cuddle on the sofa with her instantly makes me feel 100 times better and ready to face the world

yeap they change your whole life but so much for the better,would never have dreamed going out if it was freezing or slinging it down with rain but now i just wrap up n off we go!

Daisy has changed my life so much, I live a much quieter life now but I'm just so much happier   

Yep, sounds spot on for me. They certainly have an impact on your life, I don't know what I would do without Mia.

Our family has always been active as well eating healthy and as natural as possible so our dogs have always benefited from that as we want them to be as active and healthy as we are but what they've always given us and what we noticed is how calming they are as well as making us laugh more. You don't realise that influence and how much of an impact they do make when it comes to that when you have to be without them.

Can't say having a dog has made us more social as we've always pretty much kept to ourselves and are real homebodies and only leave the house to walk our dogs, head out to the gym or the track but I do know once we move to Andorra as well as spend time at our home in Spain and travelling throughout Europe for vacations - being able to take dogs out to restaurants, cafes and other public places will probably improve the social part of our lives  

I've learnt that you can in fact sleep on the very edge of a bed and not fall out if you tuck in your arms and don't move all night

Other than that yes to all the things listed above, Axl has changed my life completely I don't know what I'd do without him to be honest <3

I was #1 slayer in runescape the online mmorpg (gaming nerd)
i was also one of the best ranger and mage.
i got dogs again after a long long time away fom them... i couldnt stand the pain when they left us.
now i couldnt be away from them, they come before and woman i have met which some may say is unhealthy but any woman that has dogs will know what i mean so im willing to wait out for a woman like that.

Aw Nathan the right girl will come along

I'm happy it being me and Ledger my fella is away at sea with work so rarely see him, thankfully he tolerates a manic dog who gets supremely jealous as sadly it's mostly flying visits so each time is new and exciting for Ledger.

My boy is keeping me grounded he isn't the cause of me losing weight but has certainly helped with it, with his agility and flyball he has a better social life than me lol. I definitely see my parents more purely as they look after Ledger for some of my shifts at work I really wouldnt bother as much otherwise especially lately with the personal digs

I've changed my car and bed for him bought him a freezer and as other have said my wardrobe is now predominantly updated with appropriate dog walking kit

Haha what was your Runescape name Nathan?

I never really was bothered about getting a dog and I think I did struggle to start with as I wanted to do so much like travel and work on getting a good job and have my freedom etc but since getting Bane I couldn't imagine being without him!
I've learn't so much about dogs and the breed from trying to do the best for him. I've met so many awesome people when out on walks with him and I actually leave the house instead of just working in all day. Definitely explored new places with him and learn't a lot about myself from raising him from a pup! (Some good, some bad )
They are quite amazing

I just realised another way in that they do change our priorities and the most recent example is with the house hunting and finding the dream home. The hubby has just been in Andorra to find our next home and 1 of the most important features is enough garden space to run around like a loon and suitable fencing. He's found that and Marquez will basically be able to do laps right around the house Hopefully they take his offer as it will be a dream for him but our home in Spain he will love even more as we also brought it based on being suitable for our dogs. Now that is dog paradise with a land plot of 3000m2 fenced around the property and a further 10,000 which we will be fencing off once we're back settled in Europe SO many great memories of our dogos running around that property with more space than they could ever dream of and where they could truly run off lead.

Lol Nathan I am/was a gaming nerd! Spent years playing World of Warcraft and raiding until axl came along and now I have a new addiction

I've always had them since I left my parents house so I'm used to it. Suki has an incredible amount of energy though so any time I am planning on both of us being away for more than 4 hours requires some additional planning

Laugh a lot more.
Don't socialise , don't have time as too busy going out with my girls in between working, etc.
Not so house proud, doggie toys and fluff just makes it more of a family home.
Always broke as I enjoy spending any spare money on 'my girls'.
Have got used to very little sleep as they both love to snuggle on the bed but, god, don't they ever snore.
All weather gear - good knowledge goes without saying.
Know every nook and cranny of our home town.
Don't travel abroad anymore - enjoy doggy holidays by the sea.
Feel a love for my two which are beyond words.