{"id":9812,"date":"2023-05-08T06:00:50","date_gmt":"2023-05-08T12:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/summit-education.com\/blog\/?p=9812"},"modified":"2024-06-18T14:57:34","modified_gmt":"2024-06-18T20:57:34","slug":"national-womens-health-week-is-your-bff-best-furry-friend-improving-your-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/summit-education.com\/blog\/general\/national-womens-health-week-is-your-bff-best-furry-friend-improving-your-health\/","title":{"rendered":"National Women’s Health Week: Is your BFF (Best Furry Friend) Improving Your Health?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Written By: Nicole Scheiman, OTR\/L, DrOT<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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\"\"<\/a>When asked to write a blog about women\u2019s health, I stopped and considered what I believe is improving my current state of health. I thought first about my physical health. I often prioritize work over physical exercise (even though I know better). However, early December 2022, I brought home Noodle. Noodle is a hybrid breed of half Old English Sheep Dog and half standard poodle. Noodle on the other hand has her physical priorities in order! She loves to stretch, walk, run, play games, and drink a lot of water. One of her favorite strength-training activities is trying to pull me all throughout the neighborhood! A lot can be learned from Noodle. I learned that when Noodle wakes up she stretches a lot! So, I decided I would join her in a little doga (dog yoga). So there we are on the floor rolling around and playing every morning. Oh and did I mention that I no longer press snooze for 30 minutes or more, so I have time to stretch now? Nope, Noodle won\u2019t have any part of that. When I try to snooze this is what I see:<\/p>\n

Yes, that is Noodle mid-flight ready to pounce on me if I don\u2019t get up! As I work at the computer, she requires me to get up from the computer, often, to take her out. She rings bells to let me know she needs to go out\u2026 yes, apparently I have become Pavlov\u2019s dog. I noticed that after getting Noodle I was hitting my Apple watch goal of five minutes or more of standing activity every hour for 12 hours a day. Then I decided she has so much energy we would get a pass to the Bark and Rec Dog Park. While she plays, I walk the perimeter.<\/p>\n

So then I started thinking about my mental health and if Noodle has had a positive impact there as well. That is a resounding yes! I unexpectedly lost my certified therapy dog, Hope, shortly after getting Noodle. I still grieve her loss daily, but Noodle ensures I keep busy. I\u2019m an introvert and sometimes have to nearly force myself to be social. Noodle helps because when I take her out for walks, park trips, to work, and for pup cups, people always ask me about her. I much prefer talking about Noodle then myself so I often end up meeting new dog-lover friends! Then I later think, I should socialize more, that was fun! Sometimes we are our worst enemies, aren\u2019t we?<\/p>\n

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Lauren, Jillian, Anna, and Elizabeth, all students from Huntington University\u2019s Occupational Therapy Assistant Program, enjoy \u201cNoodle\u201d the program\u2019s Therapy Dog in Training.<\/p>\n

Jillian says that Noodle improves her health because Noodle puts her in a good mood for early morning classes, which makes the rest of her day better. She also says that Noodle \u201cforces\u201d her to play and take walks which gives her fun exercise!<\/p>\n

Anna says that Noodle improves her health while at college by providing another interactive outlet. \u201cThere is something unique about human to animal interaction that you can\u2019t experience in traditional relationships.\u201d She says that Noodle is a stress-reducer, as being a full-time student can be challenging.<\/p>\n

Elizabeth agrees that Noodle improves her health because of Noodle\u2019s unconditional love and it decreases her stress levels.<\/p>\n

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I then decided to talk with some of my fellow dog lovers. I asked them to answer this question:<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\u201cWhat aspect of your personal health do you strongly believe your dog has improved for you?\u201d<\/em><\/h4>\n
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For Betty, who has never been what she calls a \u201cdog-person\u201d she enjoys having others bring their dogs over to visit. She says it is sometimes hard for those traveling longer distances to leave their dogs at home. \u201cWhen they bring them, I get the joy of both the humans and the dogs!\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n