New research investigates the ways that dog-oriented mindfulness can improve psychological health.

Walking my dog under the shade of trees, lead in hand, I pause for a moment to admire the sunlight scattered on the ground beneath my feet. It’s in moments like this that I’m suddenly struck by the beauty of the world around me — by the small things which take my breath away. As we continue our walk, I bring my attention to my breath, breathing in through my nose and out through my mouth. These walking meditations are something that I rely on in times of stress, and a way to disconnect from the hurly-burly of modern life.

Meditation is part of mindfulness, which is the practice of being aware of the present moment, with openness and curiosity. It’s associated with a whole host of mental health benefits, from reduced stress, anxiety and depression, to improved emotional regulation and enhanced cognitive flexibility. However, recent research has taken it one step further, investigating whether performing mindfulness in the presence of a dog can benefit the owner’s wellbeing, and if so, how?

Mindfulness with dogs

The study included 52 dog owners, who all took part in both conditions. In one condition, participants were guided through four dog-oriented mindfulness exercises in the presence of their dog, such as synchronised breathing or directing loving and kind thoughts towards them. In the other condition, participants performed a computer-based task, like a memory game or watching a documentary, whilst their dog was close by.

After each condition, participants completed a number of validated psychological questionnaires which captured their emotions, meaning, social connection, motivation and mindfulness. Sessions in both conditions were recorded, and these videos were then behaviourally coded for a range of affiliative interactions (such as stroking), and synchronisation behaviours (such as moving at the same time).

Psychological and behavioural changes

What researchers found was that when owners were guided through the mindfulness exercises with their dogs, they experienced greater improvements in psychological wellbeing, including vitality, gratitude, connection and meaning. They also experienced a positive shift in motivation levels for participating in the exercises.

It was also observed that during the mindfulness condition, dogs displayed more affiliative and synchronisation behaviours, such as shared eye gaze. The owners talked more to their dogs and initiated contact with them more frequently. However, activity synchrony, like moving at the same time, was actually higher in the computer-based control condition.

Meaning and implications

The findings of the study suggest that being mindful with a dog can help improve their owners’ psychological wellbeing, more than just being in close proximity to them. When participants were directed to interact with their dogs in a way which focused on their senses, breathing together or showing affection, they experienced more positive emotions, as well as feeling more connected with their dog and others.

Rather than focusing on the benefits of dog ownership, the study emphasises the importance of how we interact with them. Behaviours like talking to the dog and the dog initiating contact were related to more positive changes in the owner’s wellbeing. This also has meaningful implications for animal-assisted interventions, highlighting the importance of being present and engaged with dogs in order to maximise the benefit of these interactions.

Key research findings:

• Mindfulness with dogs boosted wellbeing
• The intervention also improved motivation
• In the mindful condition owners performed more affiliative behaviours
• There was also more synchronisation between dogs and owners