Key takeaways
- In the American Psychiatric Association's 2025 poll, 81% of pet owners said their pet has a positive effect on their mental health.
- Harvard Health reports that dog owners walk about 20 minutes more per day than non-owners, but the research cannot prove that a dog causes better health.
- The benefits have a price: PetBudget's data puts a Domestic Shorthair cat at about $2.25 a day after year one and a Labrador Retriever at about $7.71.
The benefits of having pets are real but narrower than headlines suggest. Owners report better mood, less stress and more companionship, and dog owners tend to walk more. The research mostly shows an association, not proof that pets cause better health. This guide covers what are the benefits of having pets, what are the benefits of owning a dog, what the studies cannot show, and what each benefit costs per day.
Photo: Pexels stock photo, dogs and a cat lying on a cushion
The short answer on pet benefits
Pets give most owners companionship, a daily routine and a reason to move, and those effects show up in surveys and studies. The evidence is strongest for mood and activity and weakest for specific medical outcomes. Treat a pet as a way of life, not a prescription.
About 95 million U.S. households owned a pet in 2025, per APPA's May 2026 industry release. Dogs are in 53% of them and cats in 39%. Most of those owners could name at least one benefit, which is part of why the pet industry keeps growing.
| Benefit | Evidence | Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Better mood and mental health | 81% of owners report a positive effect (APA poll, 2025) | Strong for self-reports |
| More physical activity | Dog owners walk about 20 more minutes a day (Harvard Health) | Moderate |
| Heart health | Dog ownership "may be reasonable" for lowering risk (AHA, 2013) | Mixed |
| Social contact | Dog walks create chances to meet others (Harvard Health) | Moderate |
| Companionship | 61% of owners cite it (APA poll, 2025) | Strong for self-reports |
What owners say: the mental health numbers
Most owners say their pet helps their mental health, and the share has stayed high for two years. The American Psychiatric Association's 2025 national poll found that 81% of pet owners see a positive effect on their mental health. The chart shows the reasons owners gave.
The poll lists stress and anxiety relief at 65%, a calming presence at 62% and companionship at 61%. Only 31% cited more physical activity, which is lower than the stress and companionship answers. These are self-reports, so they show how owners feel, not a measured clinical effect.
A pet is not a treatment. If you live with serious depression or anxiety, see a professional. A pet can add routine and company on top of care, but it cannot replace care.
What are the benefits of owning a dog?
The clearest benefit of a dog is more walking, and walking helps nearly every health measure. Harvard Health's article on the heartfelt benefits of pet ownership reports that dog owners walk about 20 minutes more per day than people without dogs. It also notes lower resting heart rates and lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels among dog owners in the review.
A dog also changes your social life. Harvard Medical School's Beth Frates, quoted in the same coverage, argues that dog walks can reduce loneliness and create social connections. Regular outings give you contact with neighbors, other owners and green space.
The same Harvard article cautions that it is unclear whether owning a dog makes you healthier or whether healthier people are more likely to own dogs. That caveat matters for every claim in this guide.
Here is what a dog asks in return, per PetBudget's breed data:
| Dog | Exercise a day | Yearly cost after year one | Lifetime cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chihuahua | 30 min | $1,599 | $26,291 |
| Beagle | 60 min | $1,825 | $25,800 |
| Labrador Retriever | 60 min | $2,813 | $33,488 |
| Border Collie | 90 min | $2,384 | $33,247 |
If you want the walking benefit, choose a breed whose exercise needs match what you will really do. Our dog walking and exercise calculator shows how much activity each dog needs.
Do pets help your heart?
Pets may help the heart, but the research cannot say that a pet causes the benefit. The American Heart Association's scientific statement on pet ownership and cardiovascular risk was published in Circulation in 2013. It reviewed studies linking pet ownership with more physical activity, better lipid profiles, lower blood pressure and better survival after a heart event.
The statement concluded that pet ownership, particularly dog ownership, may be reasonable for reducing cardiovascular risk. It also said that adopting, rescuing or buying a pet should not be done for the primary purpose of reducing that risk. The blood pressure findings were mixed, and the statement noted that healthier people may simply be the ones who have pets.
Treat that as a fair summary of the science. A dog is a good reason to walk. It is not a heart medicine. If you have a heart condition, ask your doctor before you adopt.
What the studies cannot prove
Most pet-health studies are observational, which means they find links but not causes. Healthier, more active and more settled people may be the ones who choose pets in the first place. A study cannot tell those two stories apart without a randomized trial, and pet adoption is hard to randomize.
Keep these limits in mind when you read a headline:
- Association is not cause. A link between dog ownership and lower cholesterol could run in either direction.
- Self-reports are not measurements. The APA's 81% figure shows how owners feel, not a clinical result.
- Averages hide individuals. A pet that does not suit your life can add stress, not remove it.
- Benefits depend on the match. A high-energy dog in a small unit is a worse bet than a calm cat. See how to choose a pet for a checklist.
What the benefits cost per day
Every benefit above comes with a daily bill. Dividing PetBudget's yearly figures by 365 gives a plain-language price for companionship. The numbers below are for years after the first.
A Domestic Shorthair cat costs about $2.25 a day, a Chihuahua about $4.38 and a mixed-breed dog about $6.20. A Labrador Retriever costs about $7.71 a day, per PetBudget's data. The first year runs higher because it includes one-time supplies and procedures.
$2.25 vs $7.71
Daily cost after year one of a Domestic Shorthair cat against a Labrador Retriever in PetBudget's breed data. Price the breed you are considering in the PetBudget calculator or set two side by side in the breed comparison tool.
For the full price of each, read how much a dog costs and how much a cat costs. Our lifetime cost of a dog vs a cat guide compares them directly, and the cheapest pets to own guide lists lower-cost options.
What 20 extra minutes of walking adds up to
Twenty extra minutes a day is about 140 minutes a week, or roughly 2 hours and 20 minutes. That is simple arithmetic on the Harvard Health figure, not a separate finding. It shows how a small daily habit becomes a large weekly one, and why a dog's schedule can change an owner's routine.
| Time frame | Extra walking at 20 minutes a day |
|---|---|
| One week | About 2 hours 20 minutes |
| One month (30 days) | About 10 hours |
| One year | About 122 hours |
The number only counts if the walks happen. A dog that gets a yard and no walks gives its owner no extra steps. A breed that needs 90 minutes, such as a Border Collie, asks for far more than 20, and the owner must be ready to match it. Match your real routine to the breed before you count on the benefit.
Questions to ask before you count on a pet's mood boost
A pet helps your mood most when its needs fit your life and do not add new stress. Ask yourself these questions before you rely on a pet for wellbeing.
- Do I have the energy for daily care? Feeding, cleaning and exercise happen on bad days too.
- Can I afford a surprise bill? Money stress can erase the calm a pet brings.
- Who covers me when I am sick or away? A friend, a sitter or a boarding plan keeps the routine going. See our pet sitting and boarding cost guide.
- Is everyone at home on board? One unwilling person turns a benefit into a conflict.
- Am I ready for the long run? Cats and dogs live a decade or more, per PetBudget's breed data.
If the honest answers are mostly yes, the benefits above are a fair expectation. If not, volunteering at a shelter or fostering gives some of the contact with animals without a permanent commitment.
Do cats and small pets give the same benefits?
Cats and small pets give companionship and routine, but they do not give the walking benefit that dogs do. The APA poll covers pet owners in general, so the mental health figures apply to cat owners too. The activity findings in the Harvard review are about dogs.
| Pet | Companionship | Daily activity push | Yearly cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dog | High | High: walks | $1,599 to $2,813 |
| Cat | High | Low: play only | About $822 |
| Rat or guinea pig pair | Moderate | Low | $240 to $480 and up |
| Hamster | Low | None | $180 to $360 |
| Fish | Low | None | $240 to $600 |
The small-animal costs come from PetLifetimeCost's cheapest pets guide. Our low maintenance pets guide covers care time, and the best pets for apartments guide covers small homes.
The downsides to weigh against the benefits
A pet also adds money, time and responsibility, and those can cancel the benefit if you are not ready. A pet that stresses your finances or your schedule is not good for your mood. The benefits above assume a good match and a budget that holds.
Weigh these costs before you adopt:
- Money. A single emergency can cost thousands. Our emergency vet cost guide shows how large the bill can get, and pet insurance vs an emergency fund compares ways to cover it.
- Time. A dog needs several outings a day, every day, for 10 to 15 years.
- Housing. Leases may limit pets or charge pet rent. See the pet rent figures in our apartments guide.
- Allergies. Test your household's reactions before you commit.
- Loss. Pets live shorter lives than people, and the end of life has a cost. Our dog euthanasia and cremation cost guide covers it.
How to get the benefits without the regret
Match the pet to your life, price the whole year and plan the first weeks. These steps raise the odds that the benefits show up and the regret does not.
- Pick for fit. Choose an animal whose exercise and company needs match your week.
- Price the year. Add food, vet care, insurance and a reserve using the PetBudget calculator.
- Adopt an adult when you can. An adult's temperament is known.
- Plan the first week. Use our guide to introduce a new pet to your home.
- Use the pet. Walk the dog, play with the cat, and keep a routine.
The bottom line
The benefits of having pets are mostly better mood, steadier routine, more companionship and, for dog owners, more walking. The research shows links, not proof, and the American Heart Association says not to adopt a pet mainly for heart health. Those benefits cost about $2.25 a day for a cat and $6.20 to $7.71 a day for a larger dog after year one. Decide with your budget and your schedule, and price the animal in the PetBudget calculator first.
Frequently asked questions
What are the benefits of having pets?
Owners report better mood, less stress and more companionship, and dog owners tend to walk more. The American Heart Association says pet ownership, particularly dog ownership, may be reasonable for lowering heart disease risk. Most findings show an association, not proof that pets cause better health.
What are the benefits of owning a dog?
The best-documented benefit is more walking: Harvard Health reports about 20 extra minutes a day for dog owners. Dogs also give daily structure and chances to meet neighbors. A dog costs about $1,599 to $2,813 a year in PetBudget's breed data.
Do pets improve mental health?
Most owners say so. The American Psychiatric Association's 2025 poll found 81% of pet owners report a positive effect on mental health. Pets are not a treatment for depression or anxiety, so see a professional if symptoms are serious.
Do pets lower blood pressure or heart disease risk?
The evidence is mixed. The American Heart Association found some studies linking pet ownership to lower blood pressure and better activity, but not all, and it warns against adopting a pet mainly to reduce heart risk. Healthier people may simply be more likely to own pets.
Are the benefits of having a pet worth the cost?
That depends on your budget and time, not on the studies. A cat costs about $822 a year and a mixed-breed dog about $2,263 a year after year one in PetBudget's data. Price the whole life of the pet before deciding.
See your own pet's real numbers.
Run the calculator with your breed, metro area, and care choices for a first-year, annual, and lifetime cost estimate — not a national average.
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