I love dogs. There, I said it…and I may not be alone with this infatuation. In a study that I conducted, a vast majority of people polled were “pro dog.” I did get some people who also expressed being “pro cat,” but no one polled in this personal survey was “anti dog.”

I could easily write 200+ pages extolling the many virtues of dogs, but instead I would like to focus on one specific aspect, and that is their ability to calm us down and ease stress.

According to Harvard Health Publications, “Pets have been shown to lower blood pressure, improve recovery from heart disease, and even reduce rates of asthma and allergy in children who grow up with a Fido or a Frisky in the house. Pets also improve people’s psychological well-being and self-esteem.”

http://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/therapy-dog-offers-stress-relief-at-work-201107223111

Even just looking at a dog can have positive impacts on your mental health. So to help you get ready for the weekend, here are 14 happy dogs getting their relaxation on.

Finding comfort in your owner’s arms

Chilling in the backyard

Playing some basketball

Having fun at the beach

Going for a relaxing car ride

Lounging on the deck

Sleeping after a busy day at work

Lying down in a field

Hanging out poolside

Enjoying the great outdoors

Relaxing with a friend

Soaking up the sun

Falling asleep anywhere

Enjoying a deep-kneading shiatsu massage

This is River from muttbowl relaxing with the InstaShiatsu+ IS-3000PRO. Although we design our products for humans, River seems pretty relaxed.

Marc | Copywriter